TRAVELLING RESPLENDENT NIGHTS. 197 
We are now, they say, about twelve days from 
Aheer, exclusive of the stoppages ; twelve days, I 
mean, of twelve hours a-piece. These long stretches 
are desperately fatiguing, and trying to the health ; 
but there is no remedy. We must make these 
weary stages on account of the scarcity of water and 
herbage for the camels. The Kailouees tie theii* 
camels by the lower jaw, and fasten the string to the 
baggage piled on the back of the preceding animal ; 
and the long line moves on well this way. The 
Tuaricks fasten their bridles, when they ride their 
maharees, by a round ring in the nose. 
We had granite again to-day, and fine beds of 
felspar, pebbles, and rocks. The geology of this 
portion of Sahara is very interesting, but no crys- 
tals have yet been found. Yesterday and to-day 
the wind has been high, moderating greatly the 
heat. The wind is nearly always south-east. The 
nights are resplendent. Jupiter and Venus are 
seen close together in beautiful conjunction. The 
constellation of the Scorpion rises higher in the 
south, whilst the Pole-star apparently falls. 
I read nothing nowadays but a few verses of 
the Greek Testament, and write these miserable 
leaves of journal. I must save my strength. 1 am 
very weak as it is. We have still got nearly forty 
days of actual travelling to make before we enter 
Soudan, but we hope Providence will allow us a 
little rest at Aheer. 
lOth. — We moved on late this morning up Wady 
