CHAP. II. 
JOURNEY TO MORZOUK. 
67 
good by him north of the boundary, and by Mukni south of it. All 
camels found straying on the desert are appropriated to the re- 
spective kingdoms. 
BoNJEM, according to Mr. Eitchie, is in latitude 30°. 35'. 32". N". 
A few Arabs passed us with three camels and twelve female slaves, 
from Morzouk. We expected, on leaving TripoH, to be much 
troubled about the estabhshed prayers, which should be repeated 
by the natives five times a day, though by travellers only thrice ; 
but our present companions certainly were not very scrupulous in 
their rehgious duties ; no one, or at most only two or three of 
them, ever praying at all ; and, as for Mukni and his followers, they 
seemed to give themselves very httle trouble about it. The only 
devout person amongst them, was one of our camel-men, who 
roared out all day, as loud as he was able, verses from the Koran, 
and charms against the devil ; yet, in spite of all his sanctity, he 
was the greatest rascal in the kaffle. This fellow, in speaking of 
us, contemptuously called us Eomees, or Christians ; which coming 
to Mukni's knowledge, he threatened him with a good thrashing, if 
he ever again caUed us any thing but Mamlukes, as the Sultan him- 
self did. 
The people of the kaffle having, by this time, become better 
acquainted with us, soon discovered Mr. Ritchie's medical talents, 
and accordingly gave him no Httle trouble with their real and fan- 
cied complaints. They were all very anxious to be bled, and to take 
physic. One or two who were the most troublesome, and who had 
only imaginary ailments, were consigned to my management ; for 
these I prepared, with an air of affected gravity, a mixture of coffee, 
salt, vinegar, and red pepper, giving to each a spoonful, with many 
serious instructions, how they were to eat, drink, and sleep ; and I 
found, next morning, to my great satisfaction, that my patients had 
spread a report all over the kaffle, of the excellent effects of my 
K 2 
