254 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VI. 
about 25 years of age, were linked together. The right hand is 
fastened to the neck, round which is an iron collar, having two rings 
in the back ; through this the heavy chain is passed and locked at 
each end on the unhappy slaves. The owner sleeps with this chain 
tied to his m-ist, when in fear of their escaping. I was informed 
by their masters, that these men had been so confined during three 
months, " because they were fierce fellows, and had actually resisted 
their captors ; but above all, they had been guilty of endeavouring 
to make their escape when taken." Their com ardly owners dreaded 
them even in Fezzan. These were the only strong young men in 
the Kaffle ; almost all the other males being httle boys, or infirm 
old men. 
The Tibboo of Borgoo are represented as a timid race, in such 
dread of a gun or horse, that the bare sight of an Arab, and parti- 
cularly a mounted one, is sufficient to put a number of them to 
flight. They run with great swiftness, and when endeavouring to 
escape, use many successful and ingenious feints. For instance ; if 
pursued on rocky ground, they will kneel suddenly in such a 
manner, as to resemble a rock or stone, the mountains in their own 
country being black like themselves ; if where wood is lying, they 
embrace the trunk of a tree : if on sandy ground, they stand on an 
eminence, until their pursuer is in the hollow near them, they then 
run to the next hollow, and change their direction or even bury 
themselves before he gets to the rising ground. They show equal 
skill in eluding the vigilance of their keepers when caught. Mukni 
has often told me stories of their cunning, with evident astonishment 
and anger, that these poor wretches should dare to use their wits 
to such advantage. One of his remarks was, " if you catch one, 
and do not immediately bind him, when you turn away from him, 
he will run off." 
