54 
TREES VENUS — SHAKING HANDS. 
neral. The people now go a long way for wood. 
The tholukh-trees of the valley are not allowed to be 
cut down ; they are always preserved as a resource 
for the time of drought and dearth, when the flocks 
can find no herbage in the valley. The boughs are 
at such junctures lopped off, and the flocks are fed 
on the leaves. Thus I have seen the goats and 
sheep fed on the tholukh -leaves on the plains of 
Mourzuk, as well as near this place. Another rea- 
son may induce En-Noor to save the tholukh-trees, 
— that there may be a perpetual shade and verdure 
in the valley of Tintalous. There are many finer 
valleys than this in Asben, and were the trees not 
preserved, it would be a very barren, un lively spot. 
This evening, two hours after sunset, Venus exhi- 
bited her most splendid phasis : the west, where she 
was setting, about half-an-hour before she disap- 
peared, was lit up as if it was moonlight. On con- 
cealing the planet, the effect produced was that of 
the setting of the moon. Every star was eclipsed 
in the western circle of the heavens. I never saw 
anything before equal to this. I could here fully 
realise the words of Scripture, that the stars were 
made also " to give light upon the earth." 
The manner of saluting and shaking hands 
amongst the Kailouees deserves notice : they first 
hold up the right hand with the palm outspread, 
like the Tuaricks of Ghat. Afterwards, when more 
companionable and familiar, they take hold of 
hands, and press them lightly some five or six 
