WELLS OF EL-GUEDEA. 
137 
this was increased by the apprehension that we might lose 
our way and wander to a distance from the wells. Providence, 
however, watched for my preservation, and I escaped even 
this peril, the greatest, perhaps, which these frightful soli- 
tudes present. 
At one o'clock in the morning of the 19th, we resumed 
our route over a hard soil covered with gravel, and followed 
the same course j some hills of little elevation were scattered 
over the country. At noon we arrived at a spot which offered 
a little grass, and there halted. A man was deputed to take 
care of the cattle, and we assembled under the tent for re- 
freshment, and to shelter ourselves from the wind which now 
blew up clouds of dust. 
On the 20th, at one in the morning, we resumed our 
journey northwards, over loose sand, and halted at ten ; our 
camels found some prickly shrubs scattered over the plain. 
Towards midnight we broke up, and again travelled towards 
the north over some hillocks which rendered our progress 
slow and painful. 
On the 21st , at nine a. m. we halted in the midst of 
sand-hills, amongst which grass grew pretty plentifully. We ^- 
were a mile west of the wells of el-Guedea, where we found 
tolerably good water : the heat was greater than on the pre- 
ceding days and it was increased by a dead calm : we were 
this day fully occupied in laying in a stock of water. 
On the 22nd we recommenced our journey, still pro- 
ceeding northwards ; our progress w^as slow, as the camels 
browzed by the way on some thorny and half dried plants. 
The soil was of the same nature as that we had last traversed. 
At ten in the morning we halted to avoid the heat of the 
day, and about ten at night broke up our camp, directing our 
course northward amongst sandy hills till day-light, when we 
came to a more level soil covered with white gravel. 
On the 23rd, at nine in the morning, we suspended our 
progress. Some pieces of cameFs flesh dried in the sun 
