home.

This evening the Fezzan and Tripoli Arabs had a musical entertainment,
accompanied with dancing, at which Madame En-Noor and several
distinguished ladies of Tintalous assisted. It was the usual singing
business, with Moorish hammering on tambourines. The dance was performed
by men, mostly in imitation of the women, and was also of the usual
inelegant and indelicate description. However, there was a little mixing
of the derwish dances. The thing went off to the great satisfaction of
the Kailouees, and was kept up till midnight.

_8th._--I slept little after the villanous dancing and riot of the
preceding night, and rose late. My occupation this day was completing my
vocabulary of the Kailouee language, of which I expect to collect a
thousand words. My interpreter sometimes gives very curious explanations
when I work with him. The Arabic word which we translate "Alas!" coming
under consideration, he observed: "There is no corresponding word in the
languages of these countries. This word belongs to the Koran and the
next world." He means, that the word has only a relation to the torment
of the damned. It is curious that this Arabic term agrees with, or is
like, our word _wail_ (Ar. _weel_), and is the term used by our
translators of the New Testament in describing the torments of the lost,
"Weeping and _wailing_" &c.

Of the term "chaste," Yusuf observed, "There is no such expression in
these languages; all the women are alike, and equally accessible when
danger is absent." It is also true that the men place no bounds to their
sensual appetites, and are restrained only by inability. It may be,
however, that the more religious would have some scruples about
intriguing with their neighbours' wives.