their occupation.  Their system of washing is the primitive one practised by the labouring classes all over the north of Africa.  They roll up the clothes into a round flat heap, and then with their heels keep up a continual round of treading, using for soap a peculiar sort of clay.  Some of the girls are very impudent and immodest when a stranger passes by; but as a rule they are not so.  The wells at Mourzuk are not all good; some are fresh, others salt.  In many places will be found a well of very sweet, delicious water; and running nearly to the surface, at twenty paces distant from it, are found others really quite salt.  The same phenomenon has been observed at Siwah, in the Libyan desert.

One of our party received a present this morning of some fresh and most delicious leghma.  A good deal is drunk in Mourzuk, in an acrid state, for the purposes of intoxication.

In the evening I went to see the acting Pasha, with the Consul.  He received us with his usual urbanity, and gave coffee and lemonade twice.  He mentioned the things which a functionary of government was permitted to receive as presents,—­viz., two sheep, twelve pounds and a half of butter, fifty eggs, and two fowls.  This to be received once only from a friend.  But some of the functionaries say they can receive a cantar of butter, if divided into sufficiently small quantities, and spread over several days.

People all admire the clock I purchased for the Sultan of Sakkatou, to give him instead of the chronometer.  When it strikes the hours, I tell them it speaks various languages, at which they are greatly astonished.

Yesterday evening, a shower of bats made their appearance at dusk.

22d.—­I went with Dr. Overweg to visit the Pilgrims.  We had previously examined the head of one of them phrenologically.  The news had been spread in the tents, and the whole troop came to have their craniums studied on our arrival amongst them.  This science—­if such it can be called—­tickles the fancies of people hereabouts, being suited to their capacity.  One fellow wished to know from his head whether he should gain much money this year.  They looked upon the matter as a species of fortune-telling.

23d.—­The Pilgrims’ heads must have itched all night.  Here they are again to have them handled!  All the polls in Mourzuk will probably pass under our hands if this goes on.  It is singular that the pilgrimage to Mekka has not nourished sufficient fanaticism to prevent these good people from allowing an infidel doctor to make free with their crowns, and expatiate on their passions and propensities.  There is no calculating on the strength of the impulse of curiosity.