t leads to the residence of the
chief.

After quitting the plantations, I came to a collection of villages,
extending about three miles down the river. Among these villages is one
called "Goos" which is marked in the maps as the capital of Berber; but
the residence of the Malek,[32] or chief of the eastern shore, is not at
Goos, but at another of the collection, much larger, called Nousreddin,
as I was informed, after the name of the present Malek, who resides
there. The houses of these villages, like the rest in the country of
Berber, are built of clay, and roofed with unhewn timber, covered with
trusses of straw; that of the Malek is like those of his people, only
larger. The western shore is governed by another Malek, whose village
lies higher up the river than the emplacement of our camp. The
population of Nousreddin, and the villages adjoining, is considerable.
The country is fertile and well cultivated, and abounds in durra,
cotton, barley, fine horses, camels, dromedaries, kine, sheep, goats and
fowls, as does all the country of Berber. I found in these villages some
caravan merchants, who at present had nothing to sell but coarse cotton
cloths. These cotton cloths form the only clothing of the inhabitants;
both men and women wear them, wrapped round their middle, with one end
thrown over the shoulder or head.[33] The Berber, though resembling the
fellah of Upper Egypt in complexion, is generally not so well formed
in figure and feature. Many of them have defective teeth, probably
occasioned by the habit of chewing bad tobacco, (of which they have
plenty,) which is common here.

The greater part of their household and field work is done by slaves
they purchase from the caravans, coming either from Abyssinia or
Darfour. Some of the owners of female slaves would, for a dollar,
without scruple, permit the soldiers of our camp to sleep with them.
The women of Berber, contrary to the custom in Egypt, go with the face
unveiled, without embarrassment. Both men and women never consider
themselves in full dress, unless the hair of the head has been combed
sleek, then braided and platted together, and afterwards plentifully
anointed with butter. They never cut the hair, I believe; it
consequently forms an immense bunch behind the head, similar to that
observable in some of the ancient statues of Egypt.[34] The barbarous
practice of excision is universally performed upon all their females,
whether free or slaves; as is th