CHAP. VI. 
OF THE TIBBOO BORGOO. 
255 
The country from whence these poor victims come produces 
sufficient dates to furnish the whole army, and the conquerors 
brought away enough to supply their slaves and animals. There 
are in this country some singular insulated rocks, which are almost 
inaccessible, and which stand on plains of sand. On these many of 
the Tibboo live, and by means of large stones and arrows are 
able to keep off any people, who, like themselves, are without 
muskets. The Sultan's army, in a former Ghrazzie, stormed some 
of these fastnesses ; and though they were superior in number 
and arms, and the Tibboo naturally timid, they met with very 
severe loss. 
The plan adopted by the Arabs in taking these people is 
described in the following manner, — They rest for the night, two or 
three hours ride from the village intended to be attacked; and 
after midnight, leaving their tents and camels, with a small guard, 
they advance, so as to arrive by daylight ; they then surround the 
place, and, closing in, generally succeed in taking all the inhabitants. 
As those who elude the first range have also to pass several bodies 
placed on the look-out, and armed with guns, their chance of escape 
is almost impossible. On a rising ground, at a convenient distance? 
is placed a standard, round which are stationed men prepared to 
receive and bind the captives, as they are brought out by those who 
enter the town : when bound, the pillagers return for fresh plunder. 
In the course of one morning, a thousand or fifteen hundred 
slaves have sometimes been procured in this manner, by two or 
three hundred men only. When the inhabitants are all secured, 
the camels, flocks, and provisions, come into requisition ; and these 
dreaded Arabs march on and conquer other defenceless hordes, in 
the same manner. The Tibboo of Borgoo are of a lighter com- 
plexion than other Negroes, and are handsome people, llie 
females braid their hair, which is not very woolly, in long plaits, 
