THE SEVEN WELLS OF AISOU. 
211 
there was no more water in the skins; that the 
camels were restless, knowing that a well was a- 
head ; and that it was better to move on at once, 
and make for the well of Aisou, that marks the 
commencement of the Aheer territory. We started, 
therefore, again, although I was suffering from ill- 
ness, and moved on all night, nodding in our 
saddles in a half-slumher, that to those unaccus- 
tomed is almost more fatiguing than watchfulness. 
Several times I felt inclined to insist on a halt ; but 
the people, who were eager to arrive, cried out that 
the camels wrmted to reach the ivater ; and proceeding 
accordingly, about seven o'clock the next morning 
we at length reached the Seven Wells. We found 
only two open, the others being closed up by 
sand. Some of them belong to the Kailouees, and 
the others to the Tuaricks of Ghat. There is no 
good feeding for the camels, only a few tufts of 
coarse herbage. The kingdom of Aheer presents 
itself under grim colours. I did not move about 
this day, but consecrated it to rest. The rocks of 
Asben rise above the horizon. 
l^th. — Bidding adieu to the land of Ghat — if that 
name can be applied to the desert which we have just 
traversed — we left the Seven W ells, and once more 
entered upon the desert. We had scarcely been in 
motion two hours, when there was an alarm of 
Haghar coming upon us from behind. I did 
not at first know how the report originated, and 
looked anxiously around upon the desert expecting 
