TOMBS OF SLAVES. 
203 
eggs; our people, on a former occasion, brought in 
some. It is astonishing how few birds' nests are 
found, though in some places a good number of small 
flutterers are seen. About the wells of Tajetterat 
darted half-a-dozen quails. We have not yet 
observed an ostrich, although many traces have 
been found on the sand. Around, however, are 
numbers of the wadan,* and our huntsmen are 
active. Yesterday some flesh of this animal was 
brought in. 
In this part of the route we frequently fell in 
with small heaps of stones ; and if we ask what they 
mean, are invariably told they are the graves of 
slave-children who have perished by the way, most 
probably in the arras of their mothers. What won- 
derful tales of sorrow and anguish could these rocks 
give, if they were not compelled to eternal dumb- 
ness ! What sighs, what shrieks of grief have echoed 
here ! How many tears have watered this track ! 
These thoughts saddened our way ; but they seemed 
at the same time to rouse that enthusiasm which is 
the only adequate ally to those engaged in such a 
mission as ours. 
The son of Shafou is to leave us at Esalan. I 
may as well record here, in form, a list of our griev- 
* Wadan is the Arabic name of the aoudad of the Berbers. We 
call the animal " mouflon" (Ovis tragelaphus). It is found in consi- 
derable numbers throughout the deserts of Northern Africa, from the 
Atlantic to the Red Sea. I have seen a beautiful specimen, nearly all 
milk-white, in Cairo.— Ed. 
