amongst the Arabs of the Great African Desert. 229 
Arabs obtain black slaves in exchange for horses, in the propor- 
tion of three or four slaves for each horse. These slaves are 
again sold at Wadnoon. Scott was also told, that at Llumgau- 
fra there is a very large river, which runs a long way through 
the country ; and that on the other side of this river the people 
are not Mahommedans He could not obtain any name for 
this river, but the general one of Bahar El Tieh ; which is not, 
however, applied to small rivers. The name for them is Illi- 
mon Sacharah, or running waters. 
Scott found that hostilities are also commenced by the Arabs ; 
for the Blacks never come in a hostile manner amongst the for- 
mer. 
The Arabs generally remain in the place where they pitch 
their tents, as long as the herbage affords sufficient food for their 
cattle. When this is exhausted, or dried up, the tribe removes, 
and some of the sheep and goats are killed and eaten. The 
skins of these are taken off with particular care. The head is 
first removed, and while the body is yet warm, the hand is in- 
troduced beneath the skin of the neck, and worked round until 
the two forefeet are drawn out. The skin is then stripped off^ 
so as to be without any cut on it, and thus forms a sort of bag, 
which is used to carry water or other liquid j*. 
The dress of the Arab men is nothing more than a blanket 
or shawl which is folded around them. The thick strong ones 
are called Lixsa, the thin ones Hdick. The turban is worn by 
those called Sidi, who are generally elderly people | ; and also 
by the chief men of the tribe, either old or young. 
The women wear the same kind of blanket, the corners being 
fixed over the shoulders by silver clasps, and secured by a belt 
round the middle. They have generally blue linen on the 
head. The women of the wandering tribes do not use veils. 
Their persons are slender, and the old ones are much wrinkled. 
• Is this river the Niger ? 
I This practice appears to be extremely ancient. The present Spaniards 
adopt it, probably from their Moorish conquerors, and in such bags wine is carried 
from one place to another through the whole peninsula. 
ij: Are they not the descendants of the family of Mahommed ?. 
