CHAP. IV. 
GHADAMS. 
161 
lakes of Agram (Doomboo of the maps), on the Desert of Bilma, 
the position of which I shall mention when speaking of the country 
of the Tibboo. 
The women of Soudan are much famed for their singing. They 
accompany themselves on a little instrument made of a gourd, with 
a skin stretched over it like a drum, having a handle and one string, 
which is played by a bow made with horse-hair. This instrument 
is called Erbab. Their other instruments are drums, bagpipes, 
rude cymbals, and a long gourd called Zantoo, which has a hole at 
each end, and is beaten against the calf of the leg, and stopped 
quickly by the hand. 
The women of Bornou have not so many attractions as those of 
Soudan. They are neither so handsome, well formed, clean, nor 
good-tempered ; and, in consequence, the slaves from the latter 
country bring much higher prices. The costume of the women 
of both these places is very remarkable, particularly in the manner 
of dressing their hair ; those of Soudan stretching it over a high 
pad raised like a helmet, and the Bornou girls plaiting it in some 
instances close to the head, and in others letting it hang down like 
little bobbins. They wear a large shirt of cotton, or striped silk, 
and a wrapper in the form of a petticoat, called Zeneh. Their 
silver ear-rings, bracelets, and anklets, form a very pretty con- 
trast with their jetty skins. In their own countries they wear 
no shirts, but a long wrapper tied over the breasts and under 
the arms. 
Ghadams. I have frequently had occasion to speak of tliis 
place, which is situated on the Desert, fifteen days south-west of 
Tripoli. It is there that merchants going to Tembuctoo or Tuat 
assemble before starting for their long journey. This place was 
once independent, but a few years since was taken by the son of the 
Y 
