138 
WELLS OF MAYARA. 
were boiled for our dinner, but proved as hard as wood. The 
same evening at nine, we broke up, and, after proceeding 
northward for three hours, turned to the N. N. W. over a 
level soil, without any vegetation, and overspread with small 
gravel. 
On the 24th, at eleven in the morning, the heat being 
insufferable, we halted under our tent till it moderated, 
drinking a little dokhnou ; and, about four in the afternoon, 
after having eaten some rice boiled with the flesh of the 
camel, we again advanced, bearing N, N, W. till sunset, 
when we turned northward to cross a chain of low sand-hills 
on which some grass grows. I learnt from my comrades 
that the Moors of el-Harib come as far as this place in the 
rainy seasons to pasture their flocks. We continued our 
journey till two in the morning, over a hard gravelly soil and 
some hills of loose sand ; after which we halted till dawn, 
lying down beside our camels to rest. On each side of the 
place where we stopped were great rocks of granite, amongst 
which were seen some miserable plants of mimosa fer- 
Tughiea, 
On the 25th, at four in the morning, there being suffi- 
cient light, we slowly advanced amidst large blocks of quartz, 
among which I saw many thorny plants and stunted mimo- 
sas, the bare branches of which the famished camels crop- 
ped and ate with avidity. Whether these animals were sensi- 
ble that they were approaching their own country and the mo- 
ment when their wants would be satisfied, I know not, but 
they appeared more sprightly and vigorous than usual. About 
ten o'clock the same morning, we halted at the wells of 
Mayara, situated in a defile surrounded by granite and some 
mimosas. The water of these wells, which are only four or 
five feet deep, is salt ; its taste is detestable : we had still 
one leather bottle full of good water, but the Moors would 
not allow me my share of it ; they kept it all to themselves, 
and told me to go and drink with the camels. Three Moorish 
