268 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VI. 
ascertain how much was due to him out of every private capture. 
Bookhalloom, old Sheikh Barood, and some more of the Sultan's 
people, amongst whom are one or two of his scribes, summon the 
slaves of every person concerned in the Ghrazzie before them, the 
masters attending also. Each slave is then put up to auction at a 
certain price ; the Sultan's brokers only bidding high for the finest, 
the other people, who sit round in crowds, also bidding vociferously. 
The owner bids against them until he has what he considers the 
value of the slave offered him, when, if he chooses to sell, he has 
three fourths of the money paid to liim, while one-fourth is paid by 
the purchaser to the Sultan. Should he not wish to part with his 
slaves, he buys them in, and the sum which he last names is con- 
sidered as the price, from which he has to pay the Sultan's share» 
The scribes write down each slave-owner's name, and the sum due 
from him to the Sultan, and thus the account is easily kept between 
them. 
Last night an entertainment was provided for me by Moham- 
med el Lizari, to celebrate my birthday. Lilla Fatma honoured his 
house with her presence, and was covered with silks, gold, and red 
paint, which she took care occasionally to show as she accidentally, 
or rather purposely, dropped her Aba from her face. About a hun- 
dred noisy, greasy Morzouk women amused the company, and nearly 
stunned me by playing on erbabs, drums, tin-pots, and gourds ; 
there was also much dancing, with Lackbi and pipes in abundance. 
I was sensible of this kindness on the part of Lizari, but I certainly 
never wished again to pass so noisy and tiresome a birthday. These 
compliments were followed up by a present of a young camel, on 
which I was to feast. 
As it was Lizari's wish to accompany me to Tripoli, he held 
daily consultations with his friends on the subject; and this plan was 
at length arranged, as a security against the acts of Mukni, who, we 
