250 
PICTURESQUE WADY. 
together, headed by their chiefs and countenanced 
by the marabouts, to destroy the Infidels who were 
come to pollute their country; but, undoubtedly, 
the major part were excited against us by the hope 
of plunder. 
All the inhabitants of Ghanet* are Maghata, or 
descendants of the children of the Tuaricks, Haghar 
and Azgher, which were born to them by their slaves. 
It is these Maghata who were said to be in pursuit 
of us under Sidi Jafel. There are many of the 
same people in the open desert, for the most part 
bandits, or at least inclined to that way of life. 
They levy contributions on the caravans, and on the 
settled people when they can venture. 
The valley, which embraces Seloufeeat and Tin- 
taghoda, is said to extend, by a series of connexions, 
as far as Zinder, — probably a fanciful connexion of 
the people. It is a most picturesque wady, lined 
with black granite rocks, some rising high into 
castellated peaks on the south-east, with a lower 
range of hills on the north-west. It is not above 
half a mile wide in its mean breadth ; herbage does 
not abound over all its bed, but trees cover its 
surface. The water is mostly rain water ; here and 
there, however, springs are found. All the water is 
good, and copious in supply. 
If we may judge from what we have seen of 
the marks of late rains in these districts, and the 
* This is the oasis of Janet, mentioned previously. — Ed. 
