JOURNEY TO RABAT. 
9A3 
this hospitable camp ; for half an hour we were followed by 
a troop of nearly thirty dogs^ which barked incessantly, and 
even bit our beasts. At five o'clock, turning to the N. W. 
we proceeded over level ground covered with a fine vegeta- 
tion. Towards eight in the morning, we halted for an hour 
beside a well, where we breakfasted upon fresh bread, and some 
water-melons which we had found in the fields. After this 
rural repast we drank some pretty good water, which we were 
able to take up by hand, the wells being shallow. We con- 
tinued our route to the N. W., and at eleven o'clock, the 
heat being violent^ again halted under a beautiful clump of 
fig-trees, where several travellers were sleeping ; we rested 
till noon, my guide, who was sufficiently complaisant, having 
some consideration for my illness. After this short repose 
we proceeded still towards the N. W. till three p. m. when 
our direction turned E. S. E. ; we now journeyed over loose 
sand. At half-past two we stopped before a camp of sol- 
diers, who were on their march to rejoin the emperor ; they 
had pitched their tents near an arm of the sea, which my 
guide told me was called Sbo.* To my great surprise tole- 
rable order was preserved in this camp : the centinels were 
placed at equal distances from each other, but they slept the 
whole night ; the chiefs were lodged in handsome tents,, 
having a centinel at the door, and soldiers around them. 
The women of the neighbouring districts supplied them with 
bread. 
On the 18th, at three in the morning, we set forward, 
crossing the camp, where the soldiers were still all asleep ; 
but one, waking up with a starts exclaimed : " Who goes 
there ?" This did not however interrupt our progress. 
Farther on we encountered the advanced guard, also asleep, 
but our noise disturbed them, and waking up they inquired 
* This is the river which on the maps is called Sebou, and into 
which the sea ascends. 
