236 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. V. 
piece of another pot with a hole bored in it ; a large jar is then 
filled with bones and date stones, and its mouth is filled with a 
handful of the fibres of the palm. This is inverted on the per- 
forated piece, and round it a strong fire of wood and camels' dung 
is burnt, until the pit is full of red hot ashes. The tar then 
filters into the lower pot, which is dug up when the upper one 
cools : it is immediately fit for use. Gerbas (or water-skins) are 
rubbed with this composition, which resembles coal tar in smell and 
appearance ; and it is apphed to the sores of camels. 
I observed that every man we met after leaving Gatrone was 
armed with the Harba, or long spear, and wore the dagger at his 
wrist. 
At 4. 15. arrived, after traversing a plain literally covered with 
the tracks of hyaenas and jackals, at a few palms, and a weU, called 
Kasarawa. The unevenness of the road delayed the camel until 
6. 15. We had travelled south 40" west, fourteen miles from Me- 
droosa. It was not necessary to pitch our tents, as we found some 
palm branches, which formed a comfortable shade, in which, by the 
Ught of the full moon, we took our new year's dinner of bazeen. 
There is a great deal of Deesa, a kind of Hght rush, growing here ; 
and we collected, while our dinner was cooking, a quantity for our 
horses. It requires much beating with a stick before these animals 
can eat it. This is the fodder which is always taken from Te- 
gerry to feed the horses and camels, in Kaffles passing the Tibesty 
mountains. 
We were agreeably surprised by the Kaid's producing a couple 
of fowls, which he had, unknown to me, gratuitously procured at 
Medroosa, to make amends for the disappointment we had ex- 
perienced in not purchasing the kid. 
As the Tibboo are not famed for respecting the goods of tra- 
