TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. III. 
a milch ewe, as a resource against future illness. We frequently 
rode out to the gardens near the town, and Mr. Kitchie became 
again tolerably well, though I observed, with much regret, that his 
late and frequent disorders appeared to have very materially de- 
pressed his spirits, insomuch, that he almost constantly remained 
secluded in his own apartment, silent, unoccupied, and averse to 
every kind of society. 
At the end of this month, a large Kaffle of Arabs, Tripolines, 
and Tibboo, arrived from Bornou, bringing with them 1400 slaves 
of both sexes and of all ages, the greater part being females. 
Several smaller parties had preceded them, many of whom also 
brought slaves. We rode out to meet the great kaffle, and to see 
them enter the town — it was indeed a piteous spectacle ! These poor 
oppressed beings were, many of them, so exhausted as to be scarcely 
able to walk ; their legs and feet were much swelled, and by their 
enormous size, formed a striking contrast with their emaciated bodies. 
They were all borne down with loads of fire-wood ; and even poor 
little children, worn to skeletons by fatigue and hardships, were 
obliged to bear their burthen, while many of their inhuman 
masters rode on camels, with the dreaded whip suspended from 
their wrists, with which they, from time to time, enforced obedience 
from these wretched captives. Care was taken, however, that the 
hair of the females should be arranged in nice order, and that their 
bodies should be well oiled, whilst the males were closely shaven, to 
give them a good appearance on entering the town. Their dresses 
were simply the usual cotton wrappers, and even these, in many 
instances, were so torn, as scarcely to cover them. We observed 
one girl (of what country 1 know not) who had her back and 
shoulders burned in little sprigs, in a very curious manner, so as to 
resemble figured silk ; it had a very pretty appearance, and must 
have been done when she was quite an infant. Some of the women 
