208 TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. CHAP. v. 
gave way at once, and no doubt the whole would have fallen in 
before night ; though the old man and woman stood fearlessly under 
it, and asserted that it could not happen, because no roof had ever 
fallen in their master's house. The people here have an idea, that 
corn grows more luxuriantly in salt earth than in any other, and 
from the appearance of the crops, I am incHned to be of the same 
opinion. At eleven I sent the Maherry on, and waited, at the 
Maraboot's request, to partake of a mess which he was preparing for 
us. I observed that Kaid Saad's horse seemed in very poor case, and 
was greedily eating date leaves ; but this was soon accounted for, 
on my learning that the allowance of food which he received for 
the poor beast was all sent home to the favourite wife. The people 
of this place have (if possible) a more whining tone in their saluta- 
tions, than those of Morzouk, I sent the Maraboot a knife and 
pair of scissars ; and at 12. 45. left the town, attended by Yussuf 's 
slaves, who saw us well on our road, and then took their leave of us. 
At 3. 15. came up with the Maherry, and at 3. 25. entered a miser- 
able assemblage of about two dozen mud and palm huts, called 
Zaitoon, ^^yuj, having proceeded east-south-east seven miles over a 
gravelly plain. We met the Kaid of Traghan on the road, with some 
other horsemen who were bringing eight slaves and some sheep, the 
property of Angela merchants. 
As the huts promised but little comfort, we pitched our tent in 
the midst of them, to the astonishment of the natives ; who, on 
hearing from Saad (who never forgot to order a dinner) that we 
were very great men, and friends of the Sultan, dispersed themselves 
about the village to catch all the unlucky fowls that came in their 
way, and, in consequence, we had six served up in an hour after we 
arrived. The Kaid felt much hurt at my paying for them, as he was 
afraid it would be the means of spoiling the people, who would 
always, in future, expect remuneration. 
