THE FAKI-EL-KEBin. — FAKI VILLAGE. 227 red pepper (schiteta) that an European can hardly cat thein.

Tliey ascribe curious powers to this schiteta. They eat, in defiance of the Koran, the tortoise, as well as the hog, and also the locust or grasshopper, from which they tear off the wings, and then roast it in the fire. The shells of the tortoise and of many small mussels they use as dishes and spoons. They have neither wheat nor maize, although the ground is well adapted to them. The merry-makings on marriage often last a month, when the bridegroom is rich, or has a number of relativ.es. Hides are used as cradles, which are suspended like hammocks on cords, and swung about. These are hung from trees, in the open air, as arc; also skins filled with milk, and in them, by shaking, butter is' produced.

One day, when we were with the Pascha, he gave my brother ' directions to professionally visit the sick Faki IMahommed of Kadmin, a man held in high esteem by all. He, the head of all the priesthood in Hallenga, was now very old, and had no special liking to pay his respects to the Pascha ; besides, he might also have been offended, the Pascha having laid his village, Avhere alone the Faki may dwell, under contribution,— a thing even Defterdar Bey had not ventured on. We learned from a Faki, Avho had accompanied the army from Cliartum, that this Faki-cl-Ivebir had sworn not to behold the sun-light, as long as the Turks darkened the land. Accompanied by a servant, Ave mounted our asses, and stai-ted for the Faki village, some half-hour's journey distant; we must have been spied out when some way from it, for we found many of these holy men assembled, who would have denied us entrance into it, as no laity were permitted to tread its sacred soil. However, on our unslinging our guns, they disappeared in all haste; but on our calling out and asking where the great Faki dwelt, two of them turned and showed us to his abode. We entered a roomy recuba, where many young girls of considerable beauty and bright colour were occupied Aveaving straw mats. From the entrance-hall avc came to a tokul, and through this to another, Avhcre the old man lay on an angareb, reading by dull lamp-light. I, hoAvevcr, returned at once into the entrance-hall, both for the sake of the purer air, and more agreeable company, the latter of Avhich our sudden