134 BIRDS BIR ENGLEEZ. 
and ask tlieir counsel. To this I could have no 
objection, and we are friends again. But I keep 
as far from the Tuaricks as I can, and do not visit 
them. I find this to be the best policy. We feed 
them every night, and they are apparently con- 
tented. The weather continues cool, the wind 
being always partly from the north. 
Many birds, crows and others, pretty large, were 
seen about the wells of Ailouab ; and a rival sports- 
man to Dr. Overweg appeared in the person of 
Mohammed et-Tunisee. He shot three small fowls 
of Carthage, one of which he gave me, I promising 
him a little powder in return when we came to 
Ghat. We noticed a small black bird with a white 
throat. But all through this desert we listen in 
vain for some songster. There is no reason for 
merriment in these dismal solitudes. 
Our people have dug a well, which the Tanel- 
kums promise to call " Bir Engleez," — the English 
Well. Good water was found easily near the 
surface at this station. 
Ath. — We started late, and made only a short 
day ; but herbage for the camels is only found here- 
abouts. Our course was, as usual, south-west over 
an undulating plateau, with an horizon now near, 
now distant. The surface of the ground was for the 
most part blackened sandstone pebbles, and some 
blocks of very bad stone. The weather continues 
fresh and pleasant. We did not feel the heat until 
some time after noon ; and as we halted early at 
