174 
COUNTRY OF TAFILET. 
is taken up by hand. The heat was extreme, and our 
only shelter some of the zizyphus lotus. 
At a short distance south of the wells is seen a high 
mountain of granite, in the crevices of which there are a 
few patches of verdure : I observed on its declevity a flock 
of sheep, which appeared no larger than young lambs. 
This mountain is nearly pointed, and rises to the height of 
one hundred and fifty or two hundred fathoms above the 
level of a very stony soil. When my fellow-travellers had 
retired to rest for the night 1 went to the wells with a satala, 
and washed myself in the cold water, which afforded me 
much comfort ; returning afterwards to my companions and 
lying down on the ground, I slept soundly till three o'clock 
in the morning. 
On the 23rd, I was still half asleep when we set out, 
proceeding for the first half hour in a N. N. E. direction ; 
we afterwards turned to the N. E., till six in the morning, 
and, quitting the barren mountains, descended into a plain of 
very hard grey sand, susceptible of cultivation. 
From this plain we beheld the beautiful and majestic 
palm-trees of the country of Tafilet, an enchanting prospect 
and one which raised my spirits by announcing the speedy 
alleviation of my sufferings. We passed through fields, 
separated, some by earth walls, and others by narrow ditches. 
The country was beautiful, but parched up by the scorching 
heat of the sun, which left no other verdure than the ever- 
green leaves of the palm. About nine in the morning we 
reached Ghourland, and were presently surrounded by a 
crowd of children, attracted by curiosity. We encamped 
under the shade of the palm-trees, at the gates of the town. 
When the arrival of our caravan from the Soudan was re- 
ported, numbers of dirty and ill- clad Moors and Jews came 
to meet us, and soon surrounded the baggage : many of my 
companions warned me to be careful of my leathern bag 
and of my pagnes, or they would be stolen, even off 
