SCHIACHA— AUGILA. 
^Besides meeting the statement of the Siwahans 
by the most positive averments to the contrary, 
he drew out a copy of the Koran, and displayed 
his skill in reading and interpreting that sacred 
standard of the Musulman faith. A deep im- 
pression was thus made on the assembly ; his own 
caravan eagerly espoused his cause ; several of 
the Siwahans joined ; so that those who were 
most etigerly bent on plundering him, were at 
last obliged to desist. Unfortunately the inter- 
preter, during his first panic, had removed the 
mineral specimens, books, papers, and other sus- 
picious articles, and caused them to be buried in 
a neighbouring swamp, whence they could never 
afterwards be recovered. 
Our traveller, having thus established his repu- 
tation as an orthodox Musulman, left Schiacha 
along with the caravan, and in a few days arrived 
at Augila. This is a very ancient town, being- 
mentioned under the same name by Herodotus. 
Antiquity is a general character of the towns in 
this part of Africa, since an immense track usual- 
ly contains only one spot fit for cultivation ; on 
which spot the town must remain, in spite of 
every revolution. Augila does not present any 
other interesting feature. It is ill built, the 
streets narrow and dirty, the houses of one story 
only, and without any light, unless from the door. 
The. inhabitants are chiefly employed in the cara- 
