84 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. II. 
rocks to a sandy, irregular plain, very difficult and dangerous, 
until we had crossed the sand-hills. At about half a mile to the 
eastward of the pass, which, as well as the plain, is called Koneir 
jjo^, is a singular rock in a conical form, surmounted by another 
resembling a turret, called Amaymet Saad u::.-v4j^1. Hills over 
the watering place were pointed out to us in the distance, south- 
south-west. At nine we entered a wadey, called Om el Abeed 
oua*llj«! (the Mother of the Slaves), and at eleven arrived at a well of 
the same name, situated amongst the mountains, and having a 
quantity of bushes growing about it. 
We found here two large flocks of sheep and goats on the way 
to Morzouk from Benioleed. We had supposed some flocks were 
ahead of us, five or six sheep having been picked up by the Kaflle, 
while still alive, but unable to walk, and had, therefore, been left to 
perish. At twelve the camels arrived, having travelled twenty 
hours, or above forty-eight miles, south-south-west. The wind was 
south during the whole day, bringing with it such showers of 
burning sand, as almost to smother us. We frequently lost our 
track, and were unable to distinguish objects at the distance even 
of a few yards. The flatness of the country offering no opposition 
to the wind, we were exposed to all its fury. The little children 
of the liberated negroes walked all this day, suffering most severely, 
their heads being shaved, and constantly exposed to the burning 
heat of the sun. One of the poor women was taken in labour in 
the afternoon, and we were obhged to tie her on a camel to prevent 
her falling off, and being left on the road to perish. We had 
arrived at this place so late at night as to be unable to prepare any 
thing to eat. 
April 26th. — Started at seven, A. M. leaving the camels to rest, 
and the horsemen rode on for Zeighan ^^j, which place we reached 
at ten, having passed over a rocky country. The village is walled, 
