LAST DATE-PALMS — KAILOUEE ESCORT. 173 
and smaller hills at their base, clotted with the beauti- 
ful ethel-tree ; palms rise in abundance on all sides ; 
gardens surround the wells ; and animals feed about 
on the plain. The scenery is quite rich, and even sug- 
gests the idea of fertility. The Tuaricks possess 
many similar fine valleys. 
We started late next day from Berket, and made 
only four hours to a well. Here it was necessary to 
wait for Waled Shafou, and the three extra camels 
which we have hired to go with us to Aheer. The 
scenery resembles that of yesterday; bat there is not so 
much herbage, and the palms are absent. Probably 
the date-palms of Berket are the last trees of this 
species which we shpJl see until our return. The 
olive-district has long ago been left behind ; and 
now the columnar date-palm is also to be among 
the things that were. They report, however, that 
there is a diminutive species in Aheer. We shall 
greet this dwarf-cousin of our old friend with plea- 
sure. 
We are on our way to meet the Kailouee 
Tuaricks, with whom we have arranged in Ghat 
to conduct us by Aheer to Zinder — a service for 
which we have already paid a hundred dollars of 
the money of Ghat. They are a company of 
merchants returning to their own country, and al- 
though they will probably protect us to a certain 
extent, can scarcely inspire so much confidence as 
Waled Shafou would have done. We travelled four 
hours on the 26th. Dr. Barth was again lost this 
