92 
JOURNEY FROM 
slenderest, by many an ell of handsome shawl. Over this, notwith- 
standing the heat of the day, he had thrown, in ample folds, a large 
white barracan, and above this a heavy red cloth burnoos, the 
hood of which was pulled over eight or ten yards of muslin rolled 
round his head as a turban. The eyelids of the Shekh had been 
carefully painted with the sable powder usually employed for that 
purpose, and which is considered, even by men, in the regency of 
Tripoly, to be absolutely requisite on occasions of ceremony. The 
tips of his fat and gentlemanly-looking fingers were at the same time 
stained with h6nnah ; and, as the dye had been recently and co- 
piously applied, would decidedly have made those of Aurora look 
pale. 
\A^hile the Shekh had been thus minutely attentive to his own 
person, that of his horse had been by no means neglected ; for his 
bridle was of crimson silk embroidered with gold, and his scarlet 
saddle-cloth displayed a broad edging of gold lace : the saddle itself 
was of rich crimson velvet, and the high back and pummel, which 
appeared through the saddle-cloth, were also thickly embroidered 
with gold. A broad band of gold lace was stretched across his chest, 
and a large and thick tassel of crimson silk and gold (which might 
have served a Grand Cross of the Bath), together with a numerous 
collection of charms, were suspended from the neck of the animal. 
The large gilt Mameluke stirrups, kept in constant motion by the 
rider, flashed gaily in the beams of the sun, which were glanced off in 
many a brilliant sparkle from this glittering assemblage of precious 
metal. If Phoebus himself had appeared in all his splendour, 
