0 
198 TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. chap. iv. 
I remarked that our negress invariably used the letter P for F ; 
she would say, for instance, Yussup instead of Yussuf, Patoo for Fatoo; 
and I found that this was general amongst the natives of Bornou and 
Baghermee. These people, as well as the natives of Fezzan, always 
pronounce s as sh, and vice versa. Another pecuHarity which I have 
often observed is, that all the Fezzanners and slaves, in cutting onions 
or other vegetables, cut downwards on the forefinger of the left hand, 
and however sharp the knife may be,*they seldom injure themselves. 
Mukni now received more enlivening news from Tripoli, and he 
began again to show himself Orders came that all the traders of 
Angela, a town between Tripoli and Egypt, should be put in 
prison, and their slaves and goods taken on the Bashaw's account, 
as he was at war with their countrymen, and had sent an army 
against them. Fourteen were accordingly confined under the 
Castle, and orders were sent to the southward to take up those who 
came from the Interior, and to the eastward to secure those coming 
from Egypt. There was one of these people who was much dis- 
liked by Mukni, and who, on hearing of the proceedings against 
his countrymen, escaped with nineteen negresses, his property. The 
Sultan sent after him, and having cut off his access to a watering- 
place, he was secured, almost dying from thirst. His Hfe had been 
promised to him before he surrendered ; but the next morning he 
was deUberately shot through the breast by those who had him in 
custody, and his head and property brought back to Morzouk. Had 
this man been aware of the treachery intended, he was of sx) 
powerful a form, and of such bravery, that his capture would have 
been very difficult. Previously to his being shot, he exclaimed, 
" Tell Mohammed el Mukni that he is a viUain : Paradise is shut 
against him, and he will die by treachery. There is no God but 
God, and Mohammed is his Prophet." 
