brisson's narrative. 
seba Arabs thought the journey too dangerous to 
be encountered for the ransom of their slaves. 
The drought became so excessive, that no pas- 
turage could be found for the flocks ; upon which 
the tribes of Ouadelim and Labdesseba, after 
holding a consultation, determined to go in search 
of new habitations. The horde to which Bris- 
son's master belonged was one of those that re- 
mained behind, while the Ouadelims extended 
their ravages to Guadnum, at the distance of 300 
leagues from their former residence. Those who 
remained behind subsisted for a short period, but 
were soon reduced to the utmost extremities, 
by the failure of pasturage and water. They 
were forced to kill their camels and goats, in 
order to obtain the water in their stomachs, 
which was of a greenish colour, and extremely 
disagreeable. In this dreadful situation he was 
purchased by Sidi Sellem, the brother-in-law of 
his master, with whom he immediately departed 
for Marocco. On their journey, the appearance 
which the country presented was uniform and 
wild. Wide sandy plains, terminated by a bare 
horizon of black rocky hills, filled up this blank 
in nature. The plains were covered frequently 
with calcined flints resembling a smith's char- 
coal. In one place they observed some whitish 
earth, over which the trunks of trees were heap- 
ed in confusi^>n, with their roots torn oflT. Their 
