S34 



TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



and fouth, as do the villages, and the fmall river when it 

 has water, but it was now apparently dry. However, by 

 digging pretty deep in the fand, the water filtering through 

 the fides of the holes filled in a certain time with a putrid, 

 ill-tafted, unwholefome beverage, which is all this mifer- 

 able village has for its ufe. The people look fickly and ill- 

 coloured. Falaty is three miles and a half diftant from Hor- 

 Cacamoot, its name interpreted is Poverty. 



On the i8th, at half after fix in the morning we conti- 

 nued our journey through thick, and almofl; impenetrable 

 woods full of thorns ; and in two hours we came to the 

 bed of a torrent, though in appearance dry, upon digging 

 with our hands in the loofe fand, we found great plenty 

 of frefli water exceedingly well tailed, being fhelter- 

 ed by projecfling rocks from the adlion of the fun. This is 

 called Surf el Shekh. Here we filled our girbas, for there 

 is very little good water to be found between this and 

 Teawa. 



A GiRBA is an ox's flcin fquared, and the edges fewed to- 

 gether very artificially by a double feam, which does not 

 "let out water, much refembling that upon the beft Englifli 

 cricket-balls. An opening is left in the top of the girba, in 

 the fame manner as the bung-hole of a cafk. Around this 

 the {\dn is gathered to the fize of a large handful, which, 

 when the girba is full of water, is tied round with whip- 

 cord. Thefe girbas generally contain aibout fixty gallons 

 each, and two of them are the load of a camel. They are 

 then all befmeared on the outfide with greafe, as well to 

 hinder the water from oozing through, as to prevent its 

 being evaporat£d by the ad:ion of the fun upon the girba, 



which 



