WELLS OF AMOUL-GRAGIM. 
131 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
Wells of Amoul-Gragim. — Enormous serpents. — High sand-hills called 
Helk. — Wells of Amoul-Taf. — Hills of various-coloured granite. — 
Wells of el-Ekseif ; very good water. — Wells called Marabouty, el- 
Guedea, Mayara, and Sibicia. — High and steep mountains, defiles and 
precipices. — A severe fall. — Encampment of Sidi-Aly. — El-Harib. — 
The Berbers — Tatta, — Description of the country of el-Harib, cus- 
toms ; the tribes who inhabit it. 
On the 5th of June, at three o'clock in the morning, we 
continued to ascend lofty downs of loose sand; our direc- 
tion was northerly : the western side of these downs was 
covered with thorny plants, which served the camels for 
food. The poor animals moved with so much difficulty, 
that our progress was slow and painful ; we advanced but a 
mile an hour. 
Towards noon, having climbed to a great elevation, we 
found ourselves on an extensive plain of very hard grey 
sand : we halted near the wells of Amoul-Gragim ; which, 
like the preceding, were filled up ; these are only seven or 
eight feet deep ; their water is muddy and salt, but less dis- 
agreeable to the taste than that of Trasas. 
This night seemed cooler than those which had pre- 
ceded it : my rest was disturbed by the appearance of a 
serpent, which suddenly awoke me, and had nearly reached 
my head when I perceived it. I rose in haste ; the reptile 
was alarmed by the noise I made, and returned immediately 
to its hole, which was not far distant : this serpent was five 
feet and a half long, and as thick as the thigh of a boy twelve 
years old. The idea of so unpleasant a neighbour banished 
sleep for the remainder of the night : my travelling compa- 
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