94 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
Nothing can be more overpowering than the south wind, El 
Gibh Joj, or the east, El Shirghi jJJyUl ; each of which is equally 
to be dreaded. In addition to the excessive heat and dryness of 
these winds, they are so impregnated with sand, that the air is 
darkened by it, the sky appears of a dusky yellow, and the sun is 
barely perceptible. The eyes become red, swelled, and inflamed ; 
the hps and skin parched and chopped ; while severe pain in the 
chest is very generally felt, in consequence of the quantities of sand 
unavoidably inhaled. Nothing, indeed, is able to resist the un- 
wholesome effects of this wind. On opening our boxes, we found 
that many little articles, and some of our instruments, wliich had 
been carefully packed, were entirely split and destroyed. Gales of 
the kind here described generally continue ten or twelve hours, 
yet when a change takes place, the air seems so fresh and deHghtful, 
that the miseries of the sand-wind are soon forgotten. We some- 
times met people on our road, who invariably at parting recited the 
Fatha, each one religiously stroking his beard as soon as he had 
concluded this prayer. 
Being now settled for a time in Morzouk, we went about, in 
order to become better acquainted with the people. Mr. Ritchie 
made magnificent presents to the Sultan and his sons, and every 
thing seemed to promise weU, except that we had but little money, 
and were obliged to hve in a most economical manner on corn, and 
seldom able to afford meat ; having not only ourselves but our 
black servant and four horses to feed. 
We had now acquired some little knowledge of the language, * 
when, on the first Friday after our arrival, Mukni sent to teU us 
that he intended going to the Mosque at the Asr jms., or after- 
noon prayers, and that he expected to see us there. As this was 
to be Mr. Ritchie's first appearance in a Mosque, we had no sooner 
dressed ourselves in our best clothes than we practised the neces- 
