The same day, word was brought that the Trarzas[32] had fallen upon the oxen in the woods, and were driving them off. Our people were greatly embarrassed, for there were very few men in the camp, most of them having left it at the approach of the Ramadan; seven or eight only were at hand to pursue the robbers. I observed that they had no guns, but I was assured that the Trarza hassanes would make no use of theirs, and that the matter would be decided with sticks. During the absence of the men, the women collected in groups, and discussed the probable result of the affair; there was much quarrelling amongst them, for some asserted that the Trarzas would carry off the oxen, and others maintained, on the contrary, that they would be beaten, and that the marabouts would oblige them to relinquish their prize. Towards the end of the day, these disputes were decided by the return of the marabouts, who reported that the robbers had fled at their approach and abandoned their prey. At night, the new moon appeared; it was that of the Ramadan; and the fast was about to commence: long prayers were said, and a great quantity of sangleh was made. We supped later than usual, because we were to fast the next day. Before light I was roused to drink, for it is not lawful to take any thing while the sun is above the horizon. The truly devout Moors observe a most rigorous fast; they make only one meal in the middle of the night, and not only take no food in the day-time, but neither drink nor smoke. As the Ramadan often happens in hot weather, and the fast is more painful on account of the dreadful thirst which is experienced, the less zealous take the opportunity of travelling just at this time, because they are excused from observing the fast when they are on a journey. It was for this reason that there were so few men in the camp, when the oxen were carried off; they had all set out on their travels a few days before. This emigration does not exempt them from fasting altogether, but it affords them the advantage of chusing their own season; they always fast in preference in cold weather, because they are not then liable to suffer so much from thirst. The first day I bore the fast pretty well, but I suffered severely from thirst, and sighed for the setting of the sun; it was only a quarter of an hour after sun-set that the _cheni_ was brought, and this quarter of an hour appeared as long as a day. Impatience increased my thirst to such a degree, that I could not restrain myself, and drank more than was prudent. My body was covered with a violent perspiration; my legs failed; I fell motionless upon the mat, where I remained for half an hour, but without losing sensation. At last my strength returned by degrees, and I was able to get up to go to prayer.