110 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
yellow or green ones, fitted close to the head : others have no caps 
at all, but leav^e their hair to grow, and plait it in long tresses. 
All wear turbans, which are never of any fixed colour : blue is the 
most common and cheap ; but gaudy hues are preferred. A large 
loose shirt (having the sleeves the same size as the body), called 
Tobe, is the common dress ; it is of cotton, generally blue, or blue 
and white, and is of their own manufacture, although some wear 
those of Soudan, which are considered the best that are made. 
The merchants generally dress very gaudily while in the towns, 
wearing kaftans of bright red cloth, or very gay silk and cotton 
striped, which they procure from the Tripoline traders. A leather 
kaftan is also much worn, of their own manufacture, as are leather 
shirts of the skins of antelopes, very neatly sewed, and well pre- 
pared. Their trowsers are not made so full as those of the Moors, 
as they would in that case be much encumbered in riding their 
maherries : they rather resemble those called Cossack trowsers, and 
are made of cotton stuff, dark blue being the most common. Their 
sandals are the most elegant part of their dress, being made of 
black leather, with scarlet thongs to brace them to the feet. The 
ornamental needle-work on the inside of the sole is really admirable. 
They all wear a whip, hanging from a belt passed over the 
left shoulder by the right side. Their swords are straight and of 
great length, and they wield them with much ease and dexterity. 
From the left wrist is suspended a dagger, with the hilt towards 
the hand ; it has a broad leather ring attached to the scabbard, and 
tlu-ough this the hand is passed. No Tuarick is ever seen without 
this appendage, and a light elegant spear, sometimes entirely of 
iron, inlaid with brass ; others are of wood, but are also lughly 
ornamented. These weapons are about six feet in length, and are 
thrown to a great distance. In making war, they have three 
longer and heavier spears, and a strong lance, which are fastened 
behind the saddle. A long gun is also generally carried ; and these 
