who were at the market, Lackbi is pretty universally drank. I bought a very fine sheep for a dollar and a quarter. Every thing here, as in Tripoli, is in the hands of the Jews: they are artisans, and merchants, having dealings from one farthing up to hundreds o f dollars; they also distil brandy from the dates, and find a Very ready sale for it. Some small vessels bring goods to Zleetun; but as there is no roadsted, they anchor in the offing when the wind is from shore. Hills of sand obstruct the view of the sea at about a mile from the houses, and goods are carried that distance by camels. I here unfortunately lost my black rat, which I had rendered quite tame ; having appeared sick and drooping, I let it out of its cage, and wrapped it up in my barracan, the warmth of which so far recovered it, that, to my great regret, it made its escape : my other animals and serpents were alive and well. Monday, 20th March.—As the corn Was not ready for the slaves; we were obliged to stop over this day. I was much amused by the songs of the Negresses while pounding wheat; they sang all their country airs in chorus, and there was in their wildness much beauty. Their Boori, or songs used in sorcery, were particularly striking, and they kept time to the music with their wooden pestles and glass armlets, which sounded like cymbals. One of the songs was thus explained to m e : the three girls who sung it were pounding in the same mortar, and regulated their beating according to the circumstances of which they sung. At first they pounded slowly, one telling the other two that they must keep up their spirits, as the warriors would soon be at home, and their lovers would bring more trophies than any one else ; they then increased their time, and sang a song of triumph, the warriors being supposed to have returned; when suddenly they beat without measure, singing in a very shrill and rapid manner as for one who was dead. They then ceased, beating altogether, and sung a trio, in which two endeavoured to comfort the girl who had lost her lover, she appearing inconsolable. A t length they agreed to have recourse to sorcery, to ascertain if he died nobly. A goat was supposed to be killed, each of them examining its entrails, and singing several incantations, until a happy sign was discovered, when they resumed their pestles, winding up with a very beautiful chorus. The master o f the girls forbade their singing any more, even though I earnestly requested that they might be suffered to continue ; he said it was unholy, and that they were as great Kaffirs now, as before they acknowledged our Lord Mohammed to be the Prophet of God. Tuesday, 21st March.—At eight we left the Castle, and passed over a sandy flat, the sea being hidden from us by the sand hills; At noon we crossed a romantic water-course, having a small limpid stream running through it. We saw here the remains of a magnificent aqueduct, which once ran to Lebida. A t a short distance from one another were many small edifices resembling the mouths of wells, which were once used as communications with the aqueduct ; these little buildings are seen all the way to Lebida, and show what course the aqueduct takes. A t two we separated from the Kaffié, and went to the ruins of Lebida, which stand near the sea, and are surrounded by sand hills formed against them. The country inland of these hills, being highly and most luxuriantly cultivated, presents a pleasing aspect. As I was still very unwell, and little able to walk up the sand hills, I visited but three or four of the buildings, of which the lighthouse appeared the most extraordinary. Other ruins, which have once been fortresses, are formed of immense masses of stone. The remains of the foundation of the ancient city wall are on a gigantic scale, and several pillars yet remain of the same description as those taken away in the Weymouth store-ship. My time being limited, and this place having before been visited and described by
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