They
cover up their faces like their kindred of Ghat, but have for the most
part white _thelems_ instead of black. A few sport a red fotah, or
turban. They speak Arabic commonly, but some know also the language of
Ghat; which fact connects them certainly with that country. Their proper
name is Tanelkum, a genuine Tuarick word, and decisive of their Targhee
origin. Their trade is chiefly camel-driving between Ghat and Fezzan.
They are a fairer and finer race than the Fezzanees, and do not
intermarry with them. Their numbers are not great, perhaps scarcely more
than a thousand souls in all Fezzan; but they live in a state of entire
independence, and pay no contributions to the Porte.
We passed the first well and came up with the true Fezzanees at the
village of Laghareefah, where we encamped. It is situated in Wady
Gharbee, more properly called El-Wady _par excellence_, on account of
its superior fertility and culture. There is also Wady Sherky, and
several others; as Etsaou, Akar, Um-el-Hammam, Takruteen, and Aujar. The
people of Laghareefah are all of a black-brown hue, and some had the
ordinary negro features. They were a little rude at first, but made some
compensation in the evening by sending us a good supply of meat and
fresh bread to our tents.
To our surprise, we saw nothing of our chaouches here; and on making
inquiries, we found that they were not with the caravan.
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