May 4th.—At 7 A.M. having shaved, washed, and adorned ourselves in the finest clothes which we had at hand, we started. Mukni, however, unwilling that his new Mamlukes should be less fine than his own people, sent for two splendid bornouses, which he lent to Mr. Ritchie and myself for this grand occasion, making us ride on the right and left of him. Travelling over a desert plain, until 9.30. A.M. west by south, we entered the palm groves and gardens of Morzouk; we then saw a large body of horse and foot advancing, with three silk flags. When the horsemen came within five hundred yards of us, they set off at full speed, and on joining our party, threw themselves from their horses, and ran to kiss the Sultan’s hand. His eldest son, Sidi Aleiwa, سيدي عليوه, headed them; and after he had performed the same salutation, they all remounted and joined in the procession. On approaching the town we were joined by the dancers, drummers, and pipers. Two men stationed themselves on each side of the Sultan, bearing fans of ostrich feathers, with which they beat off the flies which incommoded him. We entered the town at 10.30. A.M. preceded by the led horses, and six silk flags. The horsemen having formed in two lines, in which I joined them, skirmished until we came to the gate. CHAPTER III. ARRIVAL AT MORZOUK. Mode of travelling across the Desert — Interview with the Sultan — Description of Morzouk — Population — Castle of the Sultan — Illness and severe Distress of the Author and his Companions — Arrival of a Kafflé of Tuarick — Fast of Rhamadan — Departure of an Expedition to obtain Slaves from the Country of Borgoo — Diseases of the Inhabitants, and the Native Methods of Cure — Feast of Aidel Shraya — Observations on the Tuarick — Their Religion, Dress, Customs, and Language — Ghraat — Its Government, Laws, and Trade — Market there — Arrival of a Kafflé from Bornou with Slaves — Information respecting Bornou and the surrounding Countries, as collected from the Traders — Of Kashna and Soudan, in general — Account of Hornemann and his Death — Tembuctoo — General Remarks on the Geography of the Interior, and probable Course of the Niger — Vocabulary of the Fellātta Language — Conjectures on the Fate of Park.