COLUMNS OF LAND. 
41 
drops of blood ! The eastern village pays in pro- 
portion. Possibly in a few years tliis cluster of 
wadys may be abandoned to chance Arab visitors, 
so that the starting-point for the traverse of the 
Hamadah will be removed farther back, perhaps to 
Mizdah. There is no life in the civilisation which 
claims lordship over these countries unfriended by 
nature. The only object of those who wield para- 
mount authority over them seems to be to extract 
money in the most vexatious and expeditious manner. 
I purchased of the people of Ghareeah a grey- 
hound bitch for four Tunisian piastres, so that we 
may now expect some hares and gazelles. In return- 
ing to the encampment I observed the phenomenon 
of a column of dust carried into the heavens in a 
spiral form by the wind, whilst all around was per- 
fectly calm. Such columns are not of so frequent 
occurrence in the desert as is imagined, but from 
time to time, as in this instance, are seen. 
The evening was spent in making arrangements 
witli Dr. Barth and Dr. Overweo-, who had ao:reed 
to traverse the Hamadah by day, whilst I was to 
follow by night, with the blacks. Next morning, 
accordingly, the caravan separated into two portions, 
and my companions rode slowly away over the 
burning desert. 
This important day could not be allowed to pass 
by my people without a tremendous quarrel. Our 
blacks seemed to be in a peculiarly excitable state. 
Ali, especially, who has distinguished himself for 
