riley's narrative, 497 
Shume, the burning blast of the desert, carrying 
with it clouds of sand. They were obliged to lie 
for two days with their faces on the ground, only 
lifting them occasionally to shake off the sand, and 
obtain breath. Three hundred never rose again, 
and two hundred camels also perished. A more 
dreadful calamity, however, awaited them. On 
coming to a valley called Haherah, which they de- 
pended upon for a supply of water, every well was 
found dry. After digging with desperation every 
spot where it appeared possible that water could 
be found, all subordination ceased ; a most furious 
quarrel commenced, which soon ended in bloods- 
shed. Several hundred were killed, and every 
species of outrage committed. To escape from 
this horrible scene, Sidi Hamet, with a party of 
his friends, set out for the south, and supported 
themselves by killing camels, till a thunder storm, 
accompanied with copious rain, relieved them from 
the miseries of thirst. Proceeding southwards* 
they came to the bank of a river called the Gozen 
Zair, described as about half as broad as from the 
town to the island of Mogadore, that is, about Mty 
yards. * They now travelled four days through 
Soudan, described as "a hilly country, but very 
* There must be here some error of the press, as the 
distance of the island is described (p. ^70-1) to be 5m 
yards. 
VOL. I. I i 
