48 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. I. 
The Arab shoes are thus formed, (^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ b^^iiid ; 
and are, in general, so badly put on, that there are few horses to be 
found which have not been injured in their feet. The Arab's forge 
is simple, and almost every man is his own blacksmith. A small 
mud or clay wall is built to the height of a foot or eighteen inches ; a 
hole is then made even with the ground, and an iron pipe introduced. 
To this are attached two skins, which open at the upper end by 
means of two sticks, having a small leather handle on each : the 
thumb is jiassed through one of these, and the fingers through the 
other; so that the hand easily opens and shuts the skin. The mouth 
being closed, the skin is pressed down, and throws a strong blast 
through the pipe. It is again opened and lifted up, when it is 
once more ready. Thus, alternately with each hand, the current 
of air is kept up to the fire which lies over the pipe. Camel's dung is 
used when charcoal cannot be procured, and gives a very strong heat. 
The anvil is a small square-ended piece of iron, which is sunk in a 
log of wood, and partly buried in the sand. An ordinary hammer, 
and a pair or two of pincers, complete the apparatus. 
The mill is equally simple, being composed of two circular stones, 
one of which lies flat on the other, and is turned by a small handle 
placed on it ; this is fixed by a pivot from the lower one, and has a 
hole in the centre, through which it is supplied with grain. 
The messes made with flour are few, and may be thus enu- 
merated : Cusscussou, Bazeen, Dweeda, Atila, Mogatta, Zumeita, 
Bread, Fetaat. Cusscussou being a dish very generally mentioned 
in all books of travels, I shall attempt to describe the manner in 
which it is made ; and I trust I may be allowed, however trifling 
the subject, to mention in the same manner the other articles of 
food, as I beheve they are at present only known by name. 
