46 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



first we had seen since we started ; it was dirty, but my 

 guides pronounced it drinkable. A Gazelle (Gazclla dorcas), 

 which was quenching its thirst, suffered a near approach, but 

 bounded over the plain when we were within sixty yards. 

 I often saw these graceful animals, but they were generally 

 very shy. When browsing at a distance they look like 

 herds of sheep, though a practised eye can distinguish them 

 in a minute. Once I was offered a lovely fawn alive, which 

 I surmise had been caught in a trap set for Bustards in the 

 LalpJia grass. I have seen them in confinement, but I have 

 heard that they are very difficult things to rear successfully. 

 We were obliged again to sleep in the open air. The 

 Arabs kindled a fire, but it was bitterly cold. The wind 

 had got up during the day, and at 9 p.m. it rained in 

 torrents: of course our fire was speedily extinguished. The 

 gusts now howled over the Sahara, vivid lightning shot 

 across the sky, and terrific peals of thunder shook the 

 firmament. In vain we shifted to the other side of the 

 bush, under the lea of which we had endeavoured to obtain 

 shelter : everything was completely soaked. We were in 

 the saddle again before daybreak, but my wet burnous 

 hung on me like a dead weight. The heavy rains of the 

 preceding night seemed to have converted the Sahara into 

 an expanse of mud. At length the Mozabite town of 

 Berryan hove in sight, and leading our mules up a some- 

 what steep ascent, we beheld the panorama of her Palm 

 gardens, all of which had been laid under water by the 

 recent rains. A carpet was quickly spread in an unoccupied 

 house called the guest house, and the chief, with about 

 thirty other Arabs, squatted round us in a circle. While 

 Mohammed detailed our adventures I produced the cre- 

 dentials which had been furnished by the " Commandant 

 superieur" at Laghouat, and which were of the greatest 

 possible service to us. Let me here thank that gentleman, 

 and everyone also who contributed to the success of the ex- 



