106 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
us, he, with great gravity, informed us that his father was a 
caporale, or, in plain Enghsh, a corporal ! 
On the 12th of July, the army all being in readiness, amount- 
ing to about 300 horse and 800 foot, with nearly 2000 camels, set 
out for Gutrone, from whence they were to make their final de- 
parture. Mukni accompanied them ; and the town was left in a 
state of quiet we had never before observed. The charge of the 
castle was committed to old Hadge Mahmoud, who locked the 
females up every evening at sunset. Mukni, who was not con- 
sidered to be a very rehgious person, was much blamed for setting 
out during the fast of Ehamadan ; and some, who knew we should 
not betray their opinions, said, that liis only reason for choosing 
such a time was, that he might have an excuse for eating, which is 
allowed by the Koran to travellers and sick persons ; provided they 
make amends when they are able, by fasting in some other month. 
Many people came to us to beg for medicines ; and Mr. Ritchie 
being unable to attend to their wants, I became their physician, 
having a medical book constantly at hand to refer to in difficult 
cases. My medicines sometimes succeeded, and I must say, that 
where I could not afford rehef, I never attempted any experiments 
which could injure my patients. I shall here state the most pre- 
valent disorders, with the method of cure employed by the inha- 
bitants : 
Diseases. Method of Cure. 
Liver complaint, frequently fatal .... Burning with a hot iron. 
Enlargement of the spleen, ditto .... Ditto. 
Asthma, ditto Ditto. 
Consumption, ditto Ditto. 
/- Burningthe temples, and putting 
Blindness < pieces of onion between the 
V eyelids. 
