This place is the Mejlees, and was the scene of all the cruelties practised by Mukni, when he first took possession of the country.
The habitation in which Captain Lyon and his party were lodged, was a very good one, and as all the houses are built upon nearly the same plan, the following description will give an idea of all the rest.

A large door, sufficiently high to admit a camel, opened into a broad passage or _skeefa,_ on one side of which was a tolerable stable for five horses, and close to it, a small room for the slaves, whose duty it might be to attend the house.

A door opposite to that of the stable opened into the _kowdi,_ a large square room, the roof of which at the height of eighteen feet, was supported by four palm trees as pillars.

In the centre of the roof was a large open space, about twelve feet by nine, from this, the house and rooms receive light, not to mention dust and excessive heat in the afternoon.

At the end of the room facing the door, a large seat of mud was raised about eighteen inches high, and twelve feet in length.