240 AFKICAX WANDERINGS.

jct greater, when Mohammed Defallali pulled out two bottles of date brandy, which he, having spent ail his money, had purchased for two pieces of cloth which he had won by his dromedary's speed ; and I now requested the party to be allowed to prepare for them a Frank drink. I poured out the bottles' contents into a vessel, and, to the surprise of all, set fii-e to the brandy ; a thing none had before seen, much less tried ; and then taking white sugar, melted it in the flames. When they beheld us two stirring about the flaming liquor with our hands, without fear or pain, they took us for sorcerers. Abu-8in and Wod-Naga, who, being Faki, did not drink even merissa, stared with the utmost astonishment at each other, and retired without taking leave of any one. On our blowing out the flame, Melek Mahmud was the first who ventured to taste it, and soon after the strong-liqiiorloving Defallah was all joy, and praising the Germans (Nemza) who had invented such a beverage. Ere long it suddenly occurred to the fat Defallali, that he had not said his evening prayer.

Although Melek Mahmud -would have prevented him, and told him that he himself only prayed when no plunder was to be had, he, with the aid of his servants, rose from the ground and staggered out of the door. There he was let down, on the spot where we had often befoi'c seen him praying, and where, contrary to prescriljed ceremony, he let his heavy posteriors rest on his heels, but could not call to mind one word of his prayers ; nor would he have got out a word had he done so, as he held in his mouth the biting bukka (tobacco, natron and water), and could only make a dull mumbling murmur. After this there was much talk, and the Turks Avere abused, as usual : all had full confidence in us, and were well convinced we told no tales.

Of the female slaves of Basa, brought into the camp for sale, the old rogues who had most money (such, for instance, as Hassan I'ticndi) have bought the most beautiful, for the purpose of again selling them at a large profit ; the lower ranks of oiRcers also buy on a venture, and foolishly enough, as tliey have seldom sufficient to keep themselves. Old Deli Mustapha, the Pascha's Kawedschi, had bought a slave, and hidden her in a nook behind tlic hearth where he cooked his coffee, where she could neither sttmd upright, nor see daylight. Although we were very