CHAP. VIII. 
RETURN TO TRIPOLI. 
299 
Sunday, 13th of February. Thermometer 3". — Proceeded at 
7. 45. along the plain. At nine the hills opened on to a broad flat 
plain, bounded at about ten miles to the eastward by hills, which 
were a continuation of those we had passed. At 1 . 40. arrived at 
Sebha, having travelled north 33° east fifteen miles. Strong south 
wind blowing. We found under the walls where we encamped two 
Kaffles who were awaiting our arrival ; one belonging to Hadge 
Mohammed el Turke, who had twenty-three Negresses and five 
men slaves ; the other belonging to an old lame Turk called Eaba 
Hassein, and consisting of twenty-one females and seven males : 
they had left Morzouk two days before us. In the evening all 
the village assembled outside the wails, to carry a bride in proces- 
sion to her husband's house. A camel was ornamented with a 
frame- work, covered over with carpets, shawls, and ostrich feathers ; 
and the bride placed within it on his back. The camel was led by 
a relation of the bride, preceded by dancing people, music, mounted 
and dismounted Arabs, who shouted and fired, running backwards 
and forwards in front of the procession. The bridegroom walked 
before them, with a fan in his hand, and his fingers dyed with 
henna, loaded with tawdry clothes, and looking very solemn. The 
bride was carried round the town and gardens, and in the end con- 
ducted to her husband's house. The village all night resounded 
with songs, and the shrill voices of the women ; and we had several 
bowls of provisions sent out to us. We found the flies here very 
tormenting. 
As I have frequently had occasion to mention Shiati, I now take 
an opportunity of saying that it is a district lying to the westward 
of Sebha; it is situated in a Wadey, and contains many towns. 
This Wadey runs east and west, or nearly so ; and is divided into 
Wadey Shirghi, or eastern Wadey, and Wadey el Ghrarbi, or western 
Wadey. 
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