NATIVE TRIBES. — CHARIFF. 235 however, they attack elephants, of which there are many, as also wild buffalos and rhinoceroses ; the teeth, hides, and horns of these they bring to Massaua, in the Habesch, and there barter them for pieces of cotton cloths for clothing. Both countries receive their waters from the Baraka, and on it, but further uj) the hills, their villages lie. Each land has a different language, mutually plunder each other of women and cattle, and carry on war among themselves, and against Makada. The men usually wear their hair long, and anoint it with fat. In all these lands gold is unknown, so are also the Abu Nukta and Abu Matfe (Theresa dollars and Spanish piastres), and all trade is carried on by barter in salt, cloths, and cattle.

The tropical rains generally commence at Assur or Magreb (three o'clock, p. m., or sunset), are usually accompanied by a Habub (blast of wind), and last till far into the night. In the morning the sky is clear and pure, not a cloud, save those which almost the whole day hang round the great hills' rocky dome.

If the cloud (Nedde) withdraws during the day, rain sets in. However, it lias not j)roved, as we were told by all, that during the Chariff, or rainy season, rain fell day and night, and in droj)s the size of musket-balls. Not only in the valleys, but in every crevice and fissure of rock, now starts up verdure, even where it could hardly have been looked for. A man licre came to my brotlier, and requested a certain poison, bacliing his request by saying that he wished to separate from his wife for ever. We ad\ iscd him to sidopt the Mussulman's plan, and, if his wife was a bad one, to divorce her; but he preferred dying to exercisinu sucli a riglit, and left us nmch depressed. I had tried to persuade the I'asi-ha not to treat Mohammed Din so harshly ; but he said 1 did not know Ixim. He at the same time told us, that his policy demanded he should also carry ott" into im])risoninent at Chartuin, the as-.saint-esteemed old Slieik IIageniar,of Maliass, who had long prophesied the arrival of the Englisii in these countries, and now Englisli ships were in the, port of Sauakim, from wliieh tlie peopU' much desired a landing.

Desertion among the soldiery still goes on, and increases: i«o ]nany are now sick, that all fear to die. The vapours drawn from the water and damp soil by the sun's heat, the many dead cameLs lying round the camp, have poisoned the air, and brought on a