sheiks' regal hoods, dress, &c. 159 pathos these paid gentlemen sing Mehemet All's praises, and also try to render General Clot-Bey immortal.

The appearance of the old Moluk (sing. Melek or Melik, also MekandMak), the native-born and hereditary kings or rulers, in their regal hoods that they still wear as a mark of sovereignty, although the Turks have reduced their power to a nullity, is exceedingly peculiar.

The hoods are a kind of close fitting coloured cap, with flaps hanging down on the neck (probably the lining of the neck armour), though these are generally turned up, and thus their pointed ends take, on each side of the head, the shape of horns, the ancient sign of supreme power, and are on this account called Takie betal gorn. The rest of the dress of one of these royal rulers used to be a long coloured caftan (similar to a dressing gown), with a broad girdle, and handsome pointed sandals. It is well known who are entitled to wear these horned head-dresses, and among these are the Ruler of Faszogl, the Sheik of Beni-Amer, Sheik Edris Wood Agib of llalfaia, and Sheik Isimr, whose Takie was of fur.

This Sheik, Edris Wood Agib, whose father, before tlie Turks broke in, ruled almost all the island, and, in addition, all tlie land between the Blue River and the Atbara (Land llalfaia or AYood Agib; wood for wollet, nollet, son, or boy), and to whom the tribes of Gos Rajab, Taka, Beni-Amer, and to the Abyssinian mountains and tlie Red Sea, were tributary, now sits in Halfaia, mourning his past greatness, and existing on tlie miserable pension of oOO piastres a month, which is hardly enough to find food and clothing for himself and his very small retinue. But, in spite of his poverty and insignificance, he is highly respected and reverenced by the present holders of rank and power, and waited on by all. lie claims his descent from the family of Fungh, a branch of the former ruling family of Sennaar, and can name his ancestors and trace his pedigree a long way back. To us, whom he daily visited, he used to open his heart about the Turks' conduct to iii:u.

lie always wore the royal hood, and when the blockhead of an apothecary, Dumont, one day mockingly asked him why he wore such a fool's cap of a takie, when he now had no country to rule, he answered him in proud tone : "di shoggie betai on ma betack," (that is my business, and none of yours). Fearful, will one day, I N