314 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VIII. 
The mothers here, and indeed all the town's-people, were at this 
time in great alarm, having heard that an OrfiUy, or Arab of Benio- 
leed, was prowling about in search of some child, whom he intended 
to kill and eat. This wretch had, from the effects of a loathsome 
disease, lost his nose, and been otherwise disfigured. Some one 
had prescribed to him, or lie himself had conceived this dreadful 
remedy for his sufferings ; and, in consequence, was on the watch 
for some young victim, in whose warm blood he was to wash himself, 
and then devour its flesh. An infant girl of two or three years of 
age had, a short time before, been rescued from him, and he was 
now wandering about the neighbourhood in search of another child. 
The Sockna Arabs had all agreed to shoot him if they could meet 
him, and Lizari had also given his promise to despatch him if he 
came in his way. 
The OrfiUy Arabs have almost universally a bad character, and 
are much disliked, not, however, without reason. A man murdered 
or robbed, a house fired, a camel stolen, or any lawless act, is almost 
always traced to an Orfilly ; and certainly a more insolent, thievish, 
and begging set of men I never saw. They even exceed the Sockna 
men in this particular : " Give me, give me," is their cry from morning 
till night. 
The language of Sockna, as I mentioned when first we visited it 
on our way to IMorzouk, is the same as that of the Tuarick, and is 
only spoken in this town ; their neighbours of Hoon and Wadan not 
understanding it at all. I subjoin a few words, suppHed by one of 
the natives. 
One Idgen. Seven Sebbah, A. 
Two Sunn. All the numbers above three are as in 
Three Shard. Arabic. 
Four Erba, A. Hand Foos. 
Five Khamsa, A. Head Ighrof. 
Six Setta, A. Sun Tefookt. 
