TRAVELS IN THE SAHARA. 
277 
could be found for the flocks ; upon which the 
tribes of Ouadelim and Labdesseba, after holding 
a consultation, determined to go in search of new 
habitations. The horde to which Brisson's master 
belonged was one of those that remained behind, 
while the Ouadelims extended their ravages to Gu- 
adnum, at the distance of 300 leagues from their 
former residence. Those who remained behind 
subsisted for a short period, but were soon re- 
duced to the utmost extremities, by the failure 
of pasturage and water. They were forced to kill 
their camels and goats, in order to obtain the wa- 
ter in their stomachs, which was of a greenish co- 
lour, and extremely disagreeable. In this dread- 
ful situation he was purchased by Sidi Sell em, the 
brother-in-law of his master, with whom he imme- 
diately departed for Marocco. On their jour- 
ney, the appearance which the country presented 
was uniform and wild. Wide sandy plains, ter- 
minated by a bare horizon of black rocky hills, fill- 
ed up this blank in nature. The plains were co- 
vered frequently with calcined flints resembling a 
smith's charcoal. In one place they observed some 
whitish earth, over which the trunks of trees were 
heaped in confusion, with their roots torn off. 
Their bark was entirely peeled, and their branches, 
brittle as glass, were twisted like cords. Their 
wood was yellowish, like the wood of liquorice, and 
the heart of the trees was filled with a powder very 
