water of the well, and plunder the caravans as they please. The wonder is that more open-desert robberies are not committed. The Rais told me this evening that _one_ person saw the moon, but it is necessary _two_ should have seen the dim, pale, half-invisible crescent streak. Then the _âyed_ after the fast would have been to-morrow. At sun-set, all the people were on the _qui-vive_, the Marabouts mounting the minaret tops, but none saw it but this solitary moongazer, who, said the Rais, "might have _imagined_ he saw the moon." The telescope was not lawful, he added, "The people must see it with the naked, unassisted eye." _2nd._--No patients; only a little girl with severe ophthalmia, and the old blind man, who fancies his eyes are better with the application of the caustic. Generally the Moors think there is a different sort of medicine for women. Yesterday I was asked for a medicine for women. I gave a man a fever powder for his wife. This morning being the last before the Ramadan, the Rais sent me a _backsheesh_ of meat (not cooked) and a quantity of rice, enough to make a sumptuous festa. Certainly the Rais is very gracious, and continues, if not increases, in his friendly feelings towards me. People are killing and preparing for the festival. There's a report, the merchants in Tripoli are afraid to leave for this city on account of rumoured depredations of the Sebâah and Shânbah. To-morrow, my taleb says he marries his two daughters. He prepares the wedding-feast, and gives his daughters a stock of _semen_ (liquid butter), and barley and wheat, to begin the world with. The sons-in-law make presents to their brides of clothes, besides a little money; and this is all the matter. My taleb seems very glad to get rid of his daughters so easily; they are extremely young--thirteen and fifteen. Besides these daughters he has a pet son. People usually choose a religious festival, for the day of the celebration of their nuptials, as in some parts of England. The taleb then, who is excessively fond of religious discussion, began, "The essence of all religion is,-- ‮وهو لا يولد ولا مولد‬ _He_ (God) _neither begets nor is begotten_: and ‮وما عند الله شركاً‬ _God has no associate_":-- both referring to the unity of God. Speaking of the duration of the world, I said:--"The world must now begin, for, up to this time, men have been generally very ignorant; and until lately the whole of the earth has not been discovered." Very angry at this, he replied:--"Now the world will finish; God is coming to destroy all you Christians, and all the black _kafers_ (infidels), as well as the white." He then gave me an account of the creation. "The world," he said, "was created seven times," &c., &c., adding many curious things. _I._--"What is to become of the world; are nearly all its inhabitants, from its beginning until now, to be d----d?" _He._--"Yes." _I._--"Is this the decree of God?" _He._--"Yes, all is _maktoub_."