Dec. 26th. Therm. 3°. 40′. A beautiful morning; but being cold, we had a good fire, and at 8.50. A.M. the camels started. We were much amused by the blacksmith of the village, who had his forge in the sand at the gate. A man from a neighbouring place came to ask his advice for a liver complaint, which had for a long time troubled him; and having been so frequently burned with a red hot iron, in order to alleviate his complaint, his side was literally covered with scars. The blacksmith having felt the man’s side, and asked many questions, told him, that the most certain remedy for his disorder would be three long burns across the back, which he assured him would soon put all to rights. Feeling compassion for the poor sufferer, I told him if he would follow me to the camels, I would give him some medicine which would relieve, instead of putting him to the torture; but he refused, and I have no doubt paid the accustomed fee of corn, and submitted to the prescribed burning next morning. This operator showed us a file of his own making, of which he was very proud. It was a small bar of iron, and when red hot, had been notched by a flint. He boasted, that although its appearance was not in its favour, it was a far better file than any bought in Morzouk. From this place some remarkable mountains bore Mengār Mejdool, S. 75°. W. Mengār Omesogueer, S.W. two miles; and Mengār Terboo, N.E. one mile. We followed the camels, and arrived with them at 10.20. at Omesogueer, 3½ miles S.W. by W. of Terboo. Here we were shown the tomb of a very great Marāboot; and, as usual on such occasions, repeated the Fatha. This holy man was named Sidi Saïd el Tare, (or lion the bird); because, on every Friday, according to the people of the plain, he appeared in the form of a beautiful green bird during the Asr, or afternoon prayer; but he was visible only to a few of his own relations and brother Marāboots. We passed over a salt plain, and came to some scattered palms, after which we entered on a larger plain, and arrived at Mejdool مجدود at 1.50.; having travelled S. 75°. W. from Omesogueer. Mejdool is a large straggling village of mud and palm huts, and not surrounded by a wall; it has, however, a castle in about the same state of repair as the others we had seen. The people appear more lively and animated than the generality of Fezzanners.—Behind the town a continuation of the mountains from Terboo runs nearly north and south, as far as the Mengār. This evening we had large bowls of sweet lackbi sent us, and we soon perceived that the people were great lovers of this liquor. Five or six drunken men came and honoured us with their company without any invitation. Kaid Saad sold to the women a great quantity of tobacco which he had brought from Zaizow, with which they were very glad to recruit their stock. We hired a guide for the desert, our two attendants being unacquainted with the road.