ELEPHANTS. 219 is the most considerable merchant of this neighbourhood, und trades principally with Makada or Habesch ; his tokul, here also called Baid (house), was dark, as all the light it had came in at the door, but Avas elegantly arranged in its way. Tables and seats were of well-made wicker-work from Abyssinia. Ostrich eggs were hung round, and the whole way round the tokul was a row of wine bottles placed close to each other as ornaments. Here we had again to eat, but Ave could hardly get a piece down, on Avhich coffee Avas produced, Avhich, from the perfumes used in its preparation, had a most peculiar though not unpleasant taste. He told us much of their habits and customs ; such as, that the son of the ruling Sheik retained that title even Avhen he Avas not elected on his father's death by the tribe, and received a third part of the revenue from the ncAvly chosen Sheik ; that the Faki did not accompany the tribe to battle. Here, too, the higher Avomen colour their eyelids Avith antimony. Sheik elacob confirmed Avhat Mussa had already told us, that he had tAvice killed a lion Avitli a lance, Avhile the latter Avas moving off sloAvly Avith a calf in his jaAvs, and that he did not drop it Avhen lussa attacked him. The Sheik held that the king of beasts Avas asliamed of his tlicft, although he had no fear for himself. We Avere told that the elepliants had tAvice nearly destroyed the Avhole village, because the holes dug in the gohr, which also served them as drinking-places, had been filled up by sand drifted by the wind. One elephant, on the occasion, had eaten too much durra, and drunk copiously of Avater, and had been left behind dead. We Avandered about the village and came on a.

house of Mohammed Ehle's, Avho, though standing at his door, did not invite us in, but only saluted us. He Avas vexed and his pride Avas offended, because Ave had not visitcil liim first of all. Some Schaigies, Avho stood near, joked Mohammed Ehle on it, blaming him for not shoAving us the usual civilities. As neither Mussa nor Jacob had placed any merissa before us, for, being Faki, they neither drink it nor smoke tobacco, though they snuff it, Ave asked the former where this Ethiopian drink Avas to be procured. On this he led us to a concealed hut in a distant corner, and here Ave found a merry party, Melek Maluuud presiding. The fat Mohammed el Charauss (Buffalo), Avho OAves the epitliet to his corpulence.