(JiHAP. IV. 
MORZOUK. 
17.3 
ally mixing with them, that I became better acquainted with their 
language and customs, which I knew would be of essential advantage 
as I proceeded southward. I also acquired many friends who, as 
far as their power extended, were of much assistance to me. Mo- 
hammed condescended to join in the dances, becoming always very 
much intoxicated, and I frequently remained the only sober person 
amongst them ; so that I was able to make observations, and to be 
much amused by my companions. As on all these occasions we 
were with closed doors, in an open court, the women played to us 
on the Erbab, and really produced a very pleasing, though a wild 
melody : their songs were pretty and plaintive, and generally in 
the Soudan language, M^hich is very musical. 
At some of our parties, a woman sang a song, which she said 
was much admired by the brother of the last Sultan, whose name 
was Sidi Montesor ; and from certain expressions in it, I discovered 
that it was the same mentioned by Horneman ; and what was sin- 
gular enough, it was sung by the same woman : she recollected that 
traveller, as having often been at the castle when she performed 
there. Some of these songs abound with poetical images ; — for 
example, a lover will compare his mistress to a young date just 
ripened ; the jetty hue of her skin, to the wing of a raven ; her 
teeth to pearls ; lier eyes to the sun ; and her breath to the attar 
of roses ; her words to musk ; her voice to the erbab ; and her 
kisses to honey, or the sugar brought from Egypt. The Arab 
songs are also very pretty, and generally in the same style. A 
young man once took much pains to teach me one ; composed, as 
he said, by a relation of his own. He sang it, as is the Arab 
custom, in a voice low and monotonous, though far from disagree- 
able. The hero of the piece is one of the Waled Suliman ; he is 
riding to see a girl whom he admires, but who belongs to another 
tribe. — As nearly as I can recollect, the words ran thus : 
