74 Land Magnetic Observations, 1911-13 



So we camped indefinitely to allow the animals to graze. Complete magnetic observations 

 were made and on the 26th and 27th declination observations throughout 24 hours were 

 secured. On the afternoon of the 25th, upon analysis of the situation, it was decided to 

 remain in camp 2 days longer to pasture and rest the animals. Thereupon as soon as the 

 moon rose Bershea, with 3 of the strongest camels, accompanied by 2 soldiers with several 

 military camels, was sent to bring water for the party from the well 8 hours away. These 

 men caused considerable uneasiness by not returning until hours after they were expected 

 on the 26th, and the camels were called in from the pasturage in preparation for contin- 

 gencies. 



On January 28 the route was resumed to a well at Taourirt, and, on the 29th, we 

 encamped at the first Tuareg village encountered, that of In-Amguel. The little oasis in 

 which the village is located was visible, because of its brilliant green, from a great distance. 

 There were no trees. The green was from irrigated oats patches. These were the first 

 human habitations we met with south of In-Salah. The village lies in a little basin sur- 

 roimded by very rough stony country, some dark -colored rock formation with no vege- 

 tation. The houses are small, rectangular, of interwithed water reeds. There are also 

 2 or 3 small mud houses. These people are so poor that they are reputed to cut fine 

 some of the desert herbs, and, like their camels, eat them. 



In-Amguel was left on Januaiy 31, some very rough, rocky, and hilly country being 

 encountered. At the close of this day the caravaneers went on a strike in a body, declaring 

 they were overworked and would die before Fort Motylinski was reached. Thej' would 

 go no further. They were told that if orders were not carried out in the morning as cus- 

 tomary, the expedition would leave them behind. The strike lasted from 8 at night to 

 4 the next morning and so was perfectly harmless. 



On February 1 , a long march was made, and a severe sand squall, which lasted one-half 

 hour, was experienced. No observations were made, as the weather was very windy and 

 the observers as well as the caravaneers were tired. The second of February brought us 

 to the practically abandoned Tuareg village of Tit. Here, in 1899, the Tuaregs had made 

 a valiant but ineffectual assault on the French forces, the Foureau-Lamy Expedition, sent 

 to subjugate them. At the base of a tremendous, domical rock, their bleaching bones 

 give gruesome testimony at once to their bravery and their defeat. One of the caravaneers, 

 Milhoud, expert hunter and ex-soldier, had been an actor for the French in that affair. 

 Here we traded for wood and chickens with flour and sugar. This was one of the few 

 regions where money was not the most useful medium of exchange. 



On February 4, we marched from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the half-hour halt near noon, 

 bread was baked, tea was made, and a wounded camel was treated. On this march 2 camels 

 gave way and had to be relieved of their loads. Camp was pitched that evening in the 

 dark at Tamanrasset, where Mousa, chief of the Tuaregs, lives when he is home. On the 

 6th, Mousa's village was left. Passing to the east through the low basin containing Mousa's 

 village and on the left of a high ridge of columnar rock (basalt?), over an extremely rough 

 and rugged trail, up, down, right, left, interminably winding, the road was extremely hard 

 on the animals, with but a small advance achieved. Another animal, Mr. Sawyer's riding- 

 camel, gave way, and was added to the list of useless animals, which was growing uncom- 

 fortably large. Rest and pasturage were imperative. Meeting with good pasturage at the 

 conclusion of the day's march, we halted indefinitely, until the condition of the animals 

 should warrant moving. A natural basin at the foot of some rock hills contained water 

 which the animals could use. But drinking water had to be brought from Mousa's village, 

 after an attempt to find water by digging, the "tilmas" water proving too foul for a 

 home-made filter-plant. 



Leaving camp in charge of Observer Sawyer, I proceeded, on February 10, a day's 

 march eastward to Fort Motylinski, French military post and depot of supplies, taking only 



