AND ANECDOTES. 349 Written at Timbuctoo, the 29th Duelhaja El Huram, year 1204.

L'Hage Hamed Elwangarie.

' God protect him.

Food of the Desert The people, whose interest induces them to cross the desert, (for there are no travellers from curiosity in this country,) obviate the objection to salt provisions, which increases the propensity to drink water, by taking with them melted butter, called smin; this is prepared without salt. They also cut beef into long pieces, about six inches long, and one inch square, without fat; these are called el kuddeed, which are hung on a line, exposed to the air till dry ; they then cut them into pieces, two inches long; these are put into (huckul) an earthen pot; they then pour the smin into the buckul till it is covered. This meat and butter, besides being palatable, is comprised in a small compass, and feeds many. When this butter has been thus prepared and kept twelve or fifteen years, it is called budrdy and is supposed to contain penetrating active medicinal qualities. 1 have seen some thirty years old.

Antithesis, afimourite Figure with the Arabs.

Mahmoud, sultan of Ghezna in the beginning of the eleventh century, though the son of a * The Muhamedans, in signing their name, always invoke the protection, mercy, or providence of God upon themselves.