CHAP. I. 
ARABS. 
55 
since the Bashaw in the regency of TripoH, and Mukni, in the 
kingdom of Fezzan, commenced so hot an attack upon them that 
they were scattered, and being in small parties, easily fell a 
prey to the troops employed against them. It was the custom 
during this war (as in all previous wars) to give no quarter ; all 
prisoners therefore had their throats cut on being taken, and every 
species of cruelty was practised on them. Two hundred and fifty, 
who were seized in a town in the Wadey Shiati of Fezzan, were 
butchered in cold blood, even though they had surrendered 
on condition of having their lives spared. This tribe perhaps 
would still have flourished in Fezzan, but that not expecting any 
attack from Mukni, they quitted for a time their own territory 
and proceeded to Egypt, in order to wage war on some other 
tribes who had offended them : this circumstance was taken 
immediate advantage of by Mukni, who contrived before their 
return to gain possession of Morzouk, which he could not other- 
wise have done. They, however, besieged him there with great 
activity ; but leaving in the meantime their frontiers undefended, 
the Bashaw poured his army into the country, and thus completely 
effected their destruction as a tribe. The small number who 
escaped became wanderers for a time, and were occasionally met 
with and killed, imtil at last the remaining few incorporated them- 
selves with other tribes. That of the Waled SuUman, which does 
not now exist, is celebrated in all the Arab stories ; and there are 
few places in this part of Africa which have not had ample occasion 
to remember them. 
Wherever they removed, their families and immense flocks 
accompanied them ; and they were commanded by one or two 
Sheikhs of known courage and experience. A friend of ours, who 
in the first wars had spared the hfe of one of their chiefs, was, a 
