ce--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.

_24th._--The Queen's birthday. At eight o'clock Mr. Gagliuffi fired a
musket, and hoisted the British jack and pennant over the Consulate. At
noon, fifty-one discharges of muskets and matchlocks announced the
auspicious event to the natives of this city, and to the Tibboos,
Tuaricks, Soudanese, Bornouese, and all other strangers of the Sahara
and Central Africa. In the evening, the Consul gave a dinner to us
travellers and to the Pasha and his officers. The healths of her
Majesty, the Sultan, and the King of Prussia, were drunk in champagne
with enthusiasm. There were thirty or forty dishes on the table, and
among them a turkey, the first ever killed in this city. Mr. Gagliuffi
had recently brought a cock and hen from Tripoli. A small saloon was
decorated with banners and cotton-stuffs of Soudan, with various
devices. Amongst these were a small portrait of her Majesty; an Ottoman
blood-red flag, with its crescent and star; and a white flag with the
Prussian black eagle. The effect was excellent, and quite astonished the
natives. The Turks ate and drank famously, and for the most part got
"elevated." When in this state it was curious to see them clawing at the
viands, utterly forgetful of Eastern gravity and decorum. I must
observe, however, that Mustapha Bey himself and one other officer
declined to drink wine. The Turks seem very tolerant to one another in
this respect. It is left as a matter for the decision of every man's
individual conscience. These sensible people do not think that, because
a man is inclined to be an ascetic himself, he is bound to force all
other people to be so likewise.

_25th._--I took a walk in the gardens this evening, and came upon two or
three small circular orchards, having wit