-CHAP. II. 
JOURNEY TO MORZOUK. 
83 
after passing a stony track, came to a wadey Mesheil Jj>A^. At 
two P. M. cleared the mountainous part of the Soudah, and de- 
scended to a plain, El Maitba Soudah ajyAtSj^], from its being 
covered with small pieces of basalt. x\t 2. 45. came to a spot called 
El Maitba Baida Ijjo, having not the shghtest trace of basalt, and 
being covered with a very small white gravel. 
We did not see, any where, the least appearance of vegetation ; 
but observed many skeletons of animals, which had died of fatigue 
on the Desert, and occasionally the grave of some human being. 
All these bodies were so dried by the extreme heat of the sun, 
that putrefaction did not appear to have taken place after death. 
In recently expired animals I could not perceive the shghtest 
offensive smell ; and in those long dead, the skin, with the hair on 
it, remained unbroken and perfect, although so brittle as to break 
with a slight blow. The sand-winds never cause these carcasses to 
change their places, as in a short time a slight mound is formed 
round them, and they become stationary. 
At 5. 50. we passed low table-topped hills east and west of us, 
called El Gaaf (_i*A!i. This desert was named Sbir ben Afeen 
LT^i^j^j' seven we encamped. The plain round us presented 
so perfect a horizon, that an astronomical observation might have 
been taken as at sea. From the excessive dryness of the air, our 
blankets and barracans emitted electric sparks, and crackled 
distinctly on being rubbed. The horses' tails, also, in beating off 
the flies, had the same effect. Our whole Kaffle were much fatigued. 
This day we had advanced south-south-west, thirty-five miles. 
April 25th. — At four, A. M. the camels set out; 8. 15. we 
passed some sand-hills, called el Ramie Kebeer ^A^J^yi, or large 
sands. At nine we came again on the plain, which was covered 
with a white encrusted clay ; at three, P. M. passed el Ramie 
Shraya, or small sands, and at 4. 45. descended by some precipitous 
M 2 
