84 
MR- LUCAS'S 
Houn, on the edge of tlie Defart of Soudah, on whofe black and 
obdurate foil, the bafis of which is a foft ftone, no vegetable but 
the Talk is feen to grow. To this tree, which is of the fize 
of the fmall Olive, and bears a fprig of yellow flov/ers, the huf- 
bandman of Fezzan is indebted for the hard and lemon-coloured 
wood of which he forms the handles of his tools, and the frames- 
of his larger inftruments. Having crofied the Defart, which fur- 
nifhes no water, and for the paffage of which four days are re- 
quilite, the Traveller accepts the refrelliments of a miferable vil- 
lage that affords him nothing but dates of the worft quality, fome 
brackifli water, and a fmall fupply of Indian corn, of the fpecies 
called GaiTob. From Zeghen, by which name the village is dif- 
tinguifhed, a lingle day conducts him to the town of Sebbah,, 
where the large remains of an antient caftle, built upon a hill, 
and other venerable ruins, that in point of extent are compared 
to thofe of Lebida, imprefs on his mind the melancholy idea of 
departed greatnefs ; while, on the other hand, the humble dwel- 
lings of the modern inhabitants, and the rich vegetation of their 
neighbouring fields, prefent to his eye an ample ftore of all that 
is requifite for the fuftenance of man. Dates, barley, Indian 
corn, pompions, cucumbers, fig trees, pomegranates, and apricots^ 
and for meaner purpofes, the white thorn and Spanifh broom are 
defcribed as but a part of the numerous vegetables that reward 
tlie 
