The tent-pitchers of the camp went round and performed, in mask, actions of the most revolting description, some being dressed as women, and dancing in the most lascivious and indecent manner.  One fellow went up to R., who was just on the point of knocking him down, when, seeing the Treasurer of the Bey cracking his sides with laughter, he allowed the brute to go off under such high patronage.  It was even said that these fellows were patronized by his Highness.  But, on all Moorish feastdays, lascivious actions of men and women are an indispensable part of their entertainment.  This is the worst side of the character of the Moors.  The Moorish women were never so profligate as since the arrival of the French in Algeria.

One of the greatest chiefs, Sultan Kaed, of the Hammama has just died.  He was an extremely old man, and it is certain that people live to a good old age in this burning clime.  During his life, he had often distinguished himself, and lastly against the French, before Constantina.  Whilst in the hills one day, we came suddenly upon a set of Arabs, about nine in number, who took to their heels on seeing us.  A man has just been killed near this place, probably by the same gang.  For robbery and murder, no hills could be better fitted, the passes being so intricate, and the winds and turns so sudden and sharp.  The Sheikh Ali brought in two loteds, a female and its young one, which he had shot.  The head of the loted is like a deer’s, but the eye is further up:  it is about a fallowdeer’s size.  The female has not the beard like a goat, but long hair, reaching from the head to the bottom of the chest, and over the fore-legs.  These loteds were taken in consequence of an order from the Bey, that they should not return without some.

On our march back to Tunis, we encamped for two days by the foot of a range of hills at Sheesheeah, about ten miles off.  The water, brought from some distance, was bad and salt.

We proceeded to Ghortabah, our old place.  Two of the prisoners (about twelve of whom we had with us), and one of the Turks, died from the excessive heat.  The two couriers that were sent with despatches for the Government were attacked near this place by the Arabs, and the horse of one was so injured, that it was necessary to kill him; the man who rode the horse was also shot through the leg.  This was probably in revenge for the exactions of the Bey of the Camp on the tribes.

On our return to Ghafsa, we had rain, hail, and high wind, and exceedingly cold—­a Siberian winter’s day on the verge of the scorching desert.  The ground, where there was clay, very slippery; the camels reeled about as if intoxicated.  The consequence was, it was long before the tents came up, and we endured much from this sudden change of the weather.  Our sufferings were, however, nothing as compared to others, for during the day, ten men were brought in dead, from the cold (three died four days before from heat), principally Turks; and, had there been no change in the temperature, we cannot tell how many would have shared the same fate.  Many of the camels, struggling against the clayey soil, could not come up.