when even a courier could not pass.
Did you meet with no impediment?--you astonish me: but praise be to
God, that you have arrived safe, and you are welcome."
137

LETTER XVIII.

_Journey to the Prince Abd Salam, and the Khalif Delemy, in
Shtuka.--Encamped in his Garden.--Mode of living in
Shtuka.--Audience of the Prince.--Expedition to the Port of Tomie,
in Suse.--Country infested with rats.--Situation of
Tomie.--Entertainment at a Douar of the Arabs of Woled
Abbusebah.--Exertions of Delemy to entertain his Guests.--Arabian
Dance aud Music.--Manner and Style of Dancing.--Eulogium of the
Viceroys and Captains to the Ladies.--Manners of the latter.--Their
personal Beauty.--Dress.--Desire of the Arabs to have a Commercial
Establishment in their Country.--Report to the Prince respecting
Tomie.--Its Contiguity to the Place of the Growth of various
Articles of Commerce.--Viceroys offer to build a House, and the
Duties.--Contemplated Visit to Messa.--Nature of the Country.--Gold
and Silver Mines.--Garden of Delemy.--Immense Water-melons and
Grapes.---Mode of Irrigation.--Extraordinary People from Sudan at
Delemy's.--Elegant Sword.--Extensive Plantations.--The Prince
prepares to depart for Tafilelt_.

TO THE SAME.
Santa Cruz, June 7, 1794.

I received a letter from the[118] Prince Muley Abdsalam, who lately
went from Santa Cruz to the Khalif of Suse, Alkaid Muhamed ben
Delemy, whose castle is in Shtuka. The prince wished to see me on
138 some commercial business that had been suggested to him by the
khalif or viceroy. We (that is, Signor Andrea de Christi, a native
of Italy, and a Dutch merchant established at Santa Cruz, and
myself) prepared our tents and servants, and departed for Shtuka
early in the morning. We passed through a fine campaign country,
occupied by a tribe of the Woled Abbusebah Arabs, and arrived, late
at night, at (_Luksebba_) the castle of Delemy, who was also sheik
of an emigration of the Arabs called Woled Abbusebah, and of
another emigration of Arabs called Woled Deleim, who had taken up
their abodes in Shtuka. When we arrived, our reception was in the
true style of Arabian hospitality. Delemy had prepared and had
pitched tents in a large garden adjoining his castle, wherein we