HE i i i a ■ J I. i t . > CH AP . V I I I . Sunday, 13 th of February. Thermometer 3°.—Proceeded at 7. 45. along the plain. A t 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. A t 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 J'urk c, who had twenty-three Negresses and five men slaves; the other belonging to an old lame Turk called Baba 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 walls, to carry a bride in procession 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 fen 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. q a 2
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