END OF THE SANDY DESERT. 
65 
came there it is difficult to say : no traces or foot- 
marks have been remarked. 
At length I had begun to find drinking a neces- 
sity. During these days of sand I imbibed more 
than during the whole of the rest of the journey. 
The eating of dates added to my thirst ; and the 
blacks complained of the same thing. Dates are 
much better in the winter, and keep the cold out of 
the stomach ; but I should recommend all Saharan 
travellers to eat as few of them as possible, at any 
season of the year. 
During this last day, beyond the expanse of 
sandy waves through which we swam, as it were, 
had risen ahead some very conspicuous mountains. 
Even at five in the morning we could see detached 
along the line of the horizon the highest and most 
advanced portion of the edge of the plateau of 
Mourzuk. In three hours the white line of cliiFs 
came in view, looking like a stretch of black-blue sea, 
contrasting strangely with the sparkling white-sand 
undulations that stretched to their feet. Some of us 
thought that an inland sea — never before heard of — 
had rolled its waters athwart our path, so perfect was 
the illusion. The heavens, this day particularly, at- 
tracted our attention. What a sky ! how beautiful ! 
The ground was a soft, light azure ; and on its 
mildly resplendent surface were scattered loosely 
about some downy, feathery clouds, of the purest 
white — veils manufactured in celestial looms! 
We expected to reach our premeditated halting- 
VOL. I. F 
