CHAP. II. 
JOURNEY TO MORZOUK. 
77 
They are not left to be hatched by the warmth of the sun, but the 
parent bird forms a rough nest, in which she covers from fourteen to 
eighteen eggs, and regularly sits on them in the same manner as the 
common fowl does on her chickens ; the male occasionally relieving 
the female. It is during the breeding season that the greatest 
numbers are procured, the Arabs shooting the old ones while on 
their nests. At all the three towns, Sockna, Hoon, and Wadan, it 
is the custom to keep tame ostriches in a stable, and in two years, to 
take three cuttings of their feathers. I imagine, from what I have 
seen of the skins of ostriches brought for sale, that all the fine fea- 
thers sent to Europe are from tame birds ; the wild ones being ge- 
nerally so ragged and torn, that not above half a dozen good perfect 
ones can be found. The white feathers are what I allude to ; the 
black, being shorter and more flexible, are generally good. All the 
camels belonging to these people are sent to the Syrtis, to pasture ; a 
distance of about five days' journey. It sometimes occurs, that after 
a great deal of rain has fallen, the plains beyond the Wadan moun- 
tains acquire sufficient verdure to feed the cattle for a few weeks. 
On this evening we had some juice of the palm-tree, called 
Lackbi, brought us, together with some milk ; and the dancing 
women remained until midnight. The tribute was all paid at the 
evening prayer. 
April 16th. — Eeturned to Hoon, where we were received as 
before. It being Friday, we saw every one preparing to go to the 
assembly at the Mosque. Mr. Ritchie declined attending ; but I 
was determined to make my debut, and to see how I could go 
through the necessary formalities. I therefore prepared myself, by 
endeavouring to appear quite unconcerned, and readily accom- 
panied the Sultan's chief followers, who seemed pleased at my 
joining them. There were about 200 people present, and addi- 
tional prayers were recited in honour of the Sultan (Mukni) and 
