SHEIK MUSSA RESOLVES TO STARVE IiniSELF. 225 with. Such a frizzing-out requires many hours' labour, and with the women it often takes up a whole day, as their hair is very stiff and difficult to arrange. The women carry very heavy burdens on their heads, and move under them with much grace and activity, nor did we observe any deformity among them.

We paid a visit to the Chawaga Mohammed, a respected and, in his way, well-informed merchant : he confirmed to us Avhat the fiery milkmaid of Mohammed Ehle, by name Fatme, had reported in the camp, that our friend Mussa, who had been most shamefully defamed by Ehh' to tlie Pasclia, had shut himself up in his tokul, to .starve himself to deivth. For four days he had been shut up in his dark hut without any nourishment, and threatened to stab with his lance any one who came near its door. We held it to be our duty to dissuaih' him from this determination, an<l so went to his house. Here all Avore in deep sorrow, and we Avere warned not to go near the tokul, as the Slieik Avas a 1)rave man, who would keep his word. This however did not alarm us, nor pi'C-vcnt our going up to the door and begging admittance, saying avc wished bei"ore his death, Avliich avc declared a manly one, to take our leave of him. It Avas the VA'ork of s<<me houis, during which Ave sat in the slia<h' of tiu' reciiba, to get the miserable man to answer us. At length, however, after aa'c had stoutlv abused both Turks and Mohammed Ehle, he cried out that all should retire save Ave alone, and cautiously oj)ening Avith his lance the door, admitted us, and again locked it behin<l him, so that only a very little liglit came in through its crevices. We embrace<l and kissed tlie brave old nuiii, Avho Avept that it Avas the lust time he Avouhl behohl us. We pretended to be about to leave him ; my brother telling him he carried diops about Avith him, which did he take he Avould a\oid all the tortures of the death bv starvation he seemed resolved on. I still see the man, Avitli shaking knees, leaning on his lance, and gazing on my brother, as he dropjK'd on sugar, fnmi a i)hial, some litpiid anodyiu'. Mussa let his lance fall, seized us both by the haiuls, aiid begged my brother to stiek tlie sugar in his mouth. Inst(>ad of the instantaneous ho])ed for eHect, he found his love of life awakene<l ; and my brother plainly tohl him that he uoav avouM live fouiteen days, altliough he took neitlicr food nor drink. This did not nt all plcn-e him. and he