200 
ORIGIN OF THE KAILOUEES. 
to a certain extent, cheered me. It was pleasant to 
know that a large body of my fellow-creatures 
were near at hand in this inhospitable desert, even 
though they entertained feelings of suspicion against 
us, and were proceeding on a path which might 
never again bring us together. Caravans often pass 
thus in these regions, like ships at sea, which hail 
each other if within hearing, but, not lying-to, are 
satisfied by this slight testimony of mutual sym- 
pathy. 
llth. — We started somewhat late, and made a 
good day of nine hours and a-half through winding- 
narrow valleys, supplying a fair quantity of has- 
heesh. The country around was wild and rugged — 
still the same primitive formation, gneiss being the 
most common rock. On the way we heard the 
story of the origin of the Kailouees, as given by the 
Haghar Tuaricks ; it is probably meant as a satire. 
According to this people, a female slave escaped from 
their country, and travelling over the desert, reached 
her native place in Soudan. But she bore within 
her bosom a pledge that still half bound her to her 
ancient masters. She brought forth a male child, 
and loved him and reared him ; so that in process 
of time he took a wife, and from this union sprung 
the bastard race of Kailouees. 
I2th. — We had halted the previous evening be- 
cause we were within an hour of the well of Tajet- 
terat, which had become famous in our caravan as 
the place where we were to be attacked and de- 
