CHAP. III. ARRIVAL AT MORZOUK. 93 
evening an excellent supper for their master. WTien no fire is to 
be had, Ziimeeta is prepared with water and oil, and so eaten. We 
usually managed, in an evening, to make a little coffee, of which 
Mukni always came and partook ; and as soon as he left the tent, 
his slaves and people generally succeeded him, wishing also to taste 
some. If we had time, we occasionally drank a cup of it in the 
morning fasting, which we found, in the most sultry weather, pre- 
vented thirst. I observed, that we never required water if we ab- 
stained from eating in the early part of the day, and I thus account 
for the Arabs drinking so little : on the contrary, if any quantity 
of water is taken on an empty stomach, the person who indulges in 
it suffers great thirst for the remainder of the day. When hot, it is 
much better to drink from the palm of the hand, which prevents the 
possibility of taking too great a draught at once. It is very refreshing 
after a long day's journey, to be well oiled all over ; and a wet cloth 
apphed to the back of the neck reheves the fulness of the head, after 
being many hours exposed to the sun. — Horses should not be brought 
near the wells until it is their turn to drink ; if they are kept in 
sight of the water, without being able to reach it, they frequently 
become furious, and many of them greedily devour the mud. 
The water is generally carried on camels set apart for that 
purpose, and having no other loads. The usual quantity is six 
gerbas, or water-skins, three on each side, one slung above the other. 
Each of these skins is about fifty pounds in weight when full. 
Should the Ivaffle expect to be four or six days without finding 
water, every camel which carries goods, has, in addition to its load, 
a skin on each side. In fact, horses generally occasion more trouble 
to a caravan than any thing else. The immense quantity of water 
necessary to be taken for them is always averaged at one camel for 
each horse, not including other loads of corn or dates for their 
food. 
