DABA. 251 made by the traders. In the centre of the market is the police office, where all disj)utes are taken to be settled. A noisy, motley crowd meets here every day; all the tribes in the district are represented, and all kinds of costumes seen, from the European dress of a few Grreek merchants to the simple bunch of leaves worn by female slaves. Oxen, camels, and donkeys are employed to bring the wares to market. The people have a good plan for tethering the animals in a sandy plain ; a hole is scooped in the sand about two feet and a half deep, the tether-line is tied to a stone or tuft of grass, and then put in the hole, which is filled up, and the animal thus securely fastened.

The band at Dara should be mentioned, for it is composed of natives, who are very good performers overtures, dances, etc., being played from notes with a precision which is quite surprising. Slatin Bey is very fond of music ; and our dinner was usually enlivened by the strains of the band which was stationed in his yard, and performed for our benefit European music, or the more wild but attractive Arab airs.

The Vakil of Dara, Sugul Bey, and the commander of the soldiers, Hassen Effendi Bimbashi, were also very hospitable, and entertained us at dinner, where once we had, amongst other dainties, a whole roasted sheep, stuffed with rice, raisins, and ground-nuts.