CHAP. II. 
JOURNEY TO MORZOUK. 
71 
sary to put on any of our embroidered clothes, having no idea that 
so much finery was to be displayed; and whilst all the slaves of the 
Sultan sported their gayest apparel, we were simply habited as 
Arabs. Mukni was not well pleased at tliis omission on our part ; 
for as we had the honour of riding on each side of him, and were 
considered as great men, he wished us to have been as fine and 
solemn as himself On coming in sight of the town, the soldiers 
commenced firing and racing in front of the Sultan, and the musi- 
cians struck up such a noise as nearly stunned us. We were shortly 
joined by another party, who even outdid the first in sound. A 
number of dancing women then appeared, who, in most fantastic 
dresses, threw themselves into extraordinary attitudes, crying in 
their usual shrill manner, and calling down blessings on the Sultan 
and his family. The armed people who came from the town 
amounted to about six or seven hundred, not including lookers-on, 
of at least the same number. The Sultan's horses, in golden trap- 
pings, and led by well dressed slaves, advanced in front, under 
three silk TripoHtan flags, striped red and yellow horizontally. A 
curious interruption took place during our progress, in consequence 
of a man's horse requiring to stale, when the whole procession, fol- 
lowing the example of the Sultan, stopped for him ; and we again 
proceeded with much solemnity. Only two other stoppages took 
place during the day ; once when a band of slaves came and pro- 
strated themselves before Mukni, and at another time when his 
majesty halted to regale himself with a fresh quid of tobacco. 
Amongst many laughable incidents which occurred, an unfortunate 
black drummer was tilted with his drum over the head of tlie 
donkey he rode, which ludicrous disaster occasioned much mirth, 
and even caused Mukni's state frown to relax. The town's people, 
on joining us, advanced in a straight line, until within about a hun- 
dred yards, when, firing their muskets, and setting up a loud yell, 
