134 
WELLS OF El EKSEIF. 
we halted ; the tent was pitched^ and I lay down in the 
hope of obtaining a little rest : next to thirsty the greatest 
torment I suffered arose from the fatiguing necessity of 
rising at all hours of the nighty to pursue our journey. 
On the I2th, at two in the morning, still half asleep, I 
mounted my camel and we resumed our route northward, 
over a level, hard and stony soil : I saw some mimosas scat- 
tered in the plain at great distances apart, without any other 
sign of vegetation. About nine, we descended, through a 
very narrow path, into a deep ravine, surrounded by enor- 
mous blocks of granite, of a pink and various other colours, 
in strata of eighteen or twenty inches thick. The camels, 
fatigued with so bad a road, had much difficulty in descend- 
ing amongst these rocks. It was ten a. m., when we halted 
at the wells of el-Ekseif, situated at the very bottom of the 
ravine. These wells, or springs, are shaded by a pretty 
grove of palm-trees of beautiful appearance; such at least 
is the impression produced by the contrast of this umbrageous 
and refreshing spot with the desolation that reigns around, 
and with the bare and arid region which we had just cros- 
sed ; a few reeds and some rushes also grow round about. 
This verdure, embosomed among immense rocks of 
granite, on a spot where, as far as the eye can reach, no 
other trace of vegetation is perceptible, has something at the 
same time wild and pleasing, which produces an effect 
strikingly picturesque. 
The water of the wells of el~Ekseif is very good; I 
found a real luxury in drinking it, for it was sweet, bright, 
and limpid. 
Tired of eating nothing but boiled rice, 1 vrent to a Moor 
who treated me with better fare. I recounted to him my 
privations, in which he seemed to take some interest, ex- 
horting me to bear my misfortunes with patience, and in- 
viting me to partake of his supper, which consisted of rice, 
boiled with meat dried in the sun, and seasoned with all- 
