256 PRODUCTS.

ttie latter are generally made of goats' hides, as in Egypt ; the goats being skinned for this purpose like hares ; the interior of the skin is merely tanned, whilst the hair is left externally ; leathern bags are also fabricated to serve the office of churns. Of leather they produce further sandals, shoes, rahads, and, lastly, shields. The rahad is a girdle fringed by many thousands of small straps, and is generally one, or half a span in length ; the girls wear these fringes round their loins, and they are usually decorated with agates and small shells.

Shields are mostly manufactured from the hide of the large antelopes ; they are of an ovoid shape, furnished with a protuberance in the centre. On the inner surface, a piece of wood bisects them longitudinally, to which two straps are attached to receive the arm ; they are very stout, for a thrust with a spear or a sabre-cut scarcely ever penetrates them. The sheep-skins they tan very neatly, and impart to them a red, yellow, green, or other optional colour, by means of the juice of certain plants ; the natives bind their shoes, ornament their sandals, or sew up charms with this coloured leather ; they also prepare sheaths for knives and other articles from it. The women plait some very ornamental articles from the foliage of the Palma Thebaica, further, bread-baskets named Tabak, covers for dishes, mats, &c. They dye the leaves in different colours, and decorate them with patterns that are really astonish-