this comparison because he had seen some very large liquor bottles on board the vessels at the port). “You Abdallah,” continued he, “you will occupy the first place; you will have more merit in the sight of God than all other Musulmans together, because you have renounced the comforts of life, and all the advantages which you were called to share, in order to come amongst us, subjecting yourself to privations which you never had suffered before.” Such was the address of my marabout’s son. This man was about forty years old; he had been at St. Louis, was able to appreciate the sacrifice which I had made, and became in consequence one of my warmest friends. All doubts as to the sincerity of my conversion were now dispelled, and from this moment I was considered as a true disciple of the prophet. I was in the highest esteem with all the Moors, and hoped that this esteem would enable me to put into execution a project which I had long ago formed, of visiting all the most interesting parts of the desert; travelling as a merchant and pilgrim to Mecca, and there effecting my return through Egypt into France. My proposition however, as will hereafter be seen, was but ill received. On the following days, I went to visit the marabouts of the camp; they all received me equally well. I will mention an anecdote which I think characteristic. One of them had killed an ox during my absence, and he knew that I had brought back some goods; he offered me a meal on condition of my giving him some tobacco; I consented. He brought a little bit of meat on a board, and began eating it with me. While he was swallowing it as fast as he could, he preached to me about abstinence, and assured me that he who eats little is beloved by God, because he likes better to pray than to satisfy his hunger (which they call being _koran-stomached_); and that he who thinks only of satisfying his appetite is an infidel. He flattered me much and told me that I had a Koran stomach. I gave him to understand that his device was easily seen through, and told him that though I ate little it was because I had little to eat, and that I believed other Musulmans were abstinent for the same reason. I pointed to an old man who was seated near us, and seemed half-famished; “Look at this good old man,” said I, “he has eaten nothing to-day: I will answer for it, that if you will give him some sangleh, he will show no Koran stomach, but eat it up directly.” The poor man replied: “It is true that I have tasted nothing since last night, when I had a little milk for my supper; and I shall bless him who gives me a good dinner to-day.” I told my host that if he himself made but one meal a day, it was for want of means, and not for the love of God; and I added, that if he could meet with any body who would give him as much as he liked, he would not require much pressing to eat it. “Ah,” said he, “the hassanes would perhaps take advantage of such a circumstance