234 
WADY OF KALTADAK. 
that we were still watched by the hostile population. 
Three men, mounted on maharees, trotted along- the 
hills, evidently in observation. We soon got out of 
the desert country, and entered the fine wady of 
Kaltadak, rich with tropical vegetation. The huge 
, tholukhs were covered with a multitude of parasi- 
tical plants, that hung in festoons or trailed down 
towards the earth. This valley runs winding round 
about the group of Tidek mountains, which have 
long been in view. They say that it abounds in 
lions, and as we advanced we looked down the long 
glades that opened on either hand, expecting to see 
some monarch of the forest stopping to gaze at us 
as we passed. We discovered, however, only three 
black ostriches moving slowly along in the distance, 
— the first I have seen wild in Africa. They ap- 
peared like dark moving lumps, the heads and 
necks not being discernible to the naked eye. Our 
people did not attempt to chase them ; and the 
gazelles that glanced near at hand were likewise 
suffered to depart in peace. At noon we reached 
the well of Anamghur, where we drank some good 
water. It was scooped out of the sandy, rocky bed 
of the wady. A group of five asses had been driven 
down to it to drink. 
As we advanced, about noon, a small group ap- 
peared a-head. A person of consequence from 
Seloufeeat, known to our escort, was coming to 
meet us. He advanced cordially, and told us that 
he had determined to be our protection. We were 
