of the thief who had stolen it, and afterwards eaten it.

"As there is no daily market at Damer, nor any shops where articles can be bought except on the weekly market-day, Burckhardt was under the necessity of imitating his companions, and going from house to house with some strings of beads in his hands, offering them for sale at about four handfuls of corn for each bead. 'I gained at this rate,' says he, ‘about sixty per cent. on the prime cost; and at the same time had an opportunity of entering many private houses, and studying the manners and habits of the people.'

"So strong is the belief of the credulous natives in the powers of the fakies, that the mere sight of them walking unarmed at the head of a caravan is sufficient to protect it. The services of several were therefore secured, and the party again set out, and reached Hawaya in safety. This village forms the northern frontier of the territory of Shendy. As he

understood it to be a safe place, Burckhardt took some beads to exchange for bread, in the village. After a long and fruitless search, he was met by some men, who invited him to go home with them, telling him that their wives would take the beads. Burckhardt accordingly followed them, until they reached a narrow unfrequented lane, when they turned short upon him, snatched away the beads, tore off his cap, and then, finding that, unarmed as he was, he still made some resistance, they drew their swords. Burckhardt then considered that it was time to take to his heels, and rejoined his companions, who laughed at his misfortunes. He afterwards applied for redress to the sheikh of the village, who recovered the cap and beads for him, but insisted on being paid, as a compliment, twice the value of the stolen goods.

"On their arrival at Shendy, Burckhardt abandoned all idea of proceeding farther south, and resolved to take the route for the Red Sea. He disposed of all his little adventure of mer

chandise, and purchased a slave boy, partly for the sake of having a constant and useful companion, and partly to afford him an ostensible reason for going in the direction of the Red Sea, where he might expect to sell him at a profit. He also purchased a camel; and having laid in a supply of provisions for the journey, he set out on the 17th of May.

"In this journey the caravan was exposed to a violent hurricane; 'the most tremendous,' says Burckhardt, 'that I ever remember to have witnessed. A dark blue cloud first appeared; as it approached nearer, and increased in height, it assumed an ash-grey colour, with a tinge of yellow, striking every person in the caravan who had not been accustomed to such phenomena with amazement at its magnificent and terrific appearance: as the clouds approached still nearer, the yellow tinge became more general, while the horizon presented the brightest azure. At last it burst upon us in its rapid course, and involved us in darkness and con