212 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. V. 
of Arabs who were pillaging the country, was so blinded by his 
fears, that he mistook these trees, which he had seen from his 
infancy, for horsemen, and in great trepidation galloped to Zuela 
with the news : the Zuela men, in consequence, putting their 
women and children in safety, went out in a body towards evening 
to reconnoitre, when, after the usual caperings of a party of Arabs, 
they came up with their enemy, which proved to be the trees in 
question ! After passing over another rough salt plain, we arrived 
at 5. 10. at Zuela, having on each side heaps of ruins within 
the walls. On an eminence near the town, the principal people 
(who are Shreefs) had been assembled for four or five hours in 
order to welcome us. We were shown to a very good house, and 
numberless visitors came, bringing provisions of all descriptions. 
For each mess Kaid Saad, who was highly dehghted, paid some 
compliment to the bringer, though not till he had first dipped 
his finger in and tasted. I was here so ill, that I was obliged to 
apply a large bhster to my side, and to go to bed, leaving my party 
listening to the wonders which the Kaid was relating about Eelford 
and myself, whom he represented as two very extraordinary per- 
sonages. 
Dec. 21st. Thermometer, at nine A. M. 7°. Being too unwell 
to leave my bed, Shreefs in numbers came to see us. About twelve 
different bowls of meat, soup, and bread, were sent in to us, which 
the Kaid and Besheer (for neither Belford nor myself had much 
appetite) successively despatched. 
December 22nd. Thermometer 9% wind east-north-east, and at 
two P. M. thermometer 21°. I found myself better until noon, 
when a severe attack of hemma seized me, and my spleen became 
so very hard and painful, that I was unable to he down. At night, 
the attack having ceased, I had a very large party to visit me, and 
to examine my curiosities, amongst which the compass, and a 
