good by him north of the boundary, and by Mukni south of it. All camels found straying on the desert are appropriated to the respective kingdoms. Bon jem, according to Mr. Bitchie, is in latitude 30°. 35'. 32". N. A few Arabs passed us with three camels and twelve female slaves, from Morzouk. We expected, on leaving Tripoli, to be much troubled about the established prayers, which should be repeated by the natives five times a day, though by travellers only thrice ; but our present companions certainly were not very scrupulous in their religious duties; no one, or at most only two or three of them, ever praying at a ll; and, as for Mukni and his followers, they seemed to give themselves very little trouble about it. The only devout person amongst them, was one of our camel-men, who roared out all day, as loud as he was able, verses from the Koran, and charms against the dev il; yet, in spite of all his sanctity, he was the greatest rascal in the kaifl6. This fellow, in speaking of us, contemptuously called us Eomees, or Christians ; which coming to Mukni’s knowledge, he threatened him with a good thrashing, if he ever again called us any thing but Mamlukes, as the Sultan himself did. The people of the kaffle having, by this time, become better acquainted with us, soon discovered Mr. Bitchie’s medical talents, and accordingly gave him no little trouble with their real and fancied complaints. They were all very anxious to be bled, and to take physic. One or two who were the most troublesome* and who had only imaginary ailments, were consigned to my management; for these I prepared, with an air o f affected gravity, a mixture of coffee, salt, vinegar, and red pepper, giving to each a spoonful, with many serious instructions, how they were to eat, drink, and sleep ; and I found, next morning, to my great satisfaction, that my patients had spread a report all over the kafH6, of the excellent effects of my k 2
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