58 
RESERVOIRS OF WATER. 
is tolerably clear, but it has a disagreeable taste and is 
very hot. 
These reservoirs had no covering whatever ; the water is 
consequently exposed to the influence of the sun and the hot 
wind. The excavations are dug in loose sand. I descended 
into the largest of them by a gentle declivity : the bottom 
was not quite covered with water. I remarked some veins 
of hard red sand ; with this exception the soil was grey sand, 
of a coarsish grain. 
Near the reservoirs are some small plantations of tobacco. 
This plant grows here no higher than five or six inches, and 
that only by dint of watering. It is the only cultivated 
vegetable that I observed in this country. Some negroes 
were engaged in gathering it ; and I remarked that it had 
already run to seed. They dry the leaves and pound them 
in a mortar, and then take the powder without any further 
preparation. It is merely a green powder, and has not even 
the smell of tobacco. They bring it to market ; but the 
richer class of people prefer that which comes from Morocco, 
which is of a far better quality. 
The inhabitants of Timbuctoo do not smoke, but the 
wandering Moors who dwell in the neighbourhood of the city 
use pipes. 
The slaves draw the water from the reservoirs in cala- 
bashes, with which they fill leathern bags, which are carried 
by asses. Before they proceed to work, they always amuse 
themselves with a short dance ; for, in spite of their hard lot, 
they are constantly full of gaiety. On their return home, 
they pour the water into jars, where it cools and loses 
somewhat of its disagreeable taste. I saw some female 
slaves washing in large calabashes beside the reservoirs. 
Two days' journey N.E. of Timbuctoo stands the town 
of Bousbehey, built of bricks, made of a sandy clay. It 
belongs to the tribe of Zaw^t, who wander in the desert of 
