WELLS OF AMOUL-TAF. 
133 
situated among rocks of grey granite ; it was necessary to 
open them ; they are only four feet deep, the water sweet, 
but not plentiful ; tamarisks flourish in the neighbourhood. 
We surrounded these wells with straw to prevent the sand 
from falling in. 
The camels were but half watered, and we filled our 
leathern bags in preparation for departure. 
At four o'clock in the morning of the lOth^ we conti- 
nued our progress northward ; and climbed a steep hill of 
granite with much difficulty, finding no beaten track. The 
soil we traversed was broken by hillocks of black gravel, and 
by sharp rocks : the country offered not the smallest sign of 
vegetation. Towards nine in the morning we descended 
into a plain, where we found a little grass, and some very 
stunted mimosa ferruginea. 
Here we rested to let our camels graze, and killed one, 
which, quite overcome with the heat, could carry the bag- 
gage no longer : its flesh was distributed amongrt the people 
of the caravan, and made us a very indifferent supper, but 
for want of better we were obHged to eat it. 
On the 1 1th we proceeded at four in the morning. If my 
inclinations had been consulted, the journey would have been 
delayed till sunrise, for 1 was much fatigued by rising every 
day so early. I was so sleepy that it was with much diffi- 
culty I could keep my seat upon my camel. I frequently 
called to mind that the only chance of surviving the journey 
lay in hastening our march ; this idea supported my courage, 
and restored my exhausted strength : I confess nevertheless, 
that I envied the fate of those who can purchase fame at a 
cheaper rate than by such painful trials and continually re- 
curring dangers. 
We still travelled northward over a dry soil resembling 
that which we had traversed on the preceding day. As we 
advanced in this direction, the heat gradually diminished, 
and our thirst became less intolerable. i\bout ten o'clock 
