230 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

morning, the powder, which was packed in small chests, was brought on camels' backs into the camp, and piled up in a pyramidical form on the open space before our tent. The Pascha fancied that all that was necessary for its safety, was to cover it with a tokul, to protect it from rain. I represented to him, that the foe might steal up into the rocks above us, and from thence, fastening burning stuff to their lances, hurl them down on the straw thatch, and so, at one stroke, destroy us all. On this, great thick woollen cloths were got, and spread over the chests, and above these a coating of turf placed. Over all this a tokul was erected, and the Pascha seemed satisfied, but still brooding over the vengeance he would take on the Faki, though probably he would not at once venture to carry it out, so as not to further inflame all the tribes against him. I had afterwards returned to Chartum (Chardum, by the Turks), on my way to visit the White River, when my brother's letters informed me that the Pascha had hung up, not on a gallows, but on Dom-trees near the camp, nine of the Faki, and that he asserted he would ere long serve in the same way some forty more-Breach of matrimonial ties is uncommon here ; any female guilty of such breach is slain with a lance, not by her husband, but her brother. At a marriage, the women sing all manner of indecent scandals against the man, and especially those leas* likely to make him acceptable to a young wife. The wives veil themselves always, even at home, while the slave and female attendants (Nussuahn), young or old, wear merely a small cloth round the loins and hips. The preparation of fat for ointments, and incense, form their main employment. The beauties of a maiden are great eyes, large and round ; small breasts ; hair down to the shoulders, and sometimes a white skin. When tidings reach them of the death of a relative, they howl in a fearful manner all night, strew dust or earth on their heads, and repeat this for many successive nights.