CHAP. V. 
JOURNEY TO ZUELA. 
211 
and her own account, she had been three years with child. Such 
mistakes are frequent here, as many women take this method of 
deceiving their husbands, to avoid being divorced for sterihty. 
The lady left the house very much irritated at my giving her no 
remedy for her complaint. At 11. 20. we started, and I observed 
the following bearings from Hamera, El Bedere, east by north 
two miles. (It is from this place that the j^eople of the neighbour- 
ing cUstricts supply themselves with salt, as it is here free from 
earth, and of a beautiful whiteness.) Omeleraneb, west-south- 
west two miles. This is the town of Sheikh Earood, of the Boo- 
wadie Arabs ; and from this place Teweewa is south-west two or 
three miles. As usual, the desert is to the left, and high sand 
hills to the right. The first part of our road was over a barren 
plain, and we then, for an hour and a half, travelled over a plain 
of salt, broken up in large slabs by the heat of the sun, and 
having the appearance of a brown disturbed sea. We found the 
footing very difficult for ourselves and animals. At 1. 40. arrived 
at the village of Omesogueen. Stopped here for a short time, and 
sent the camels on. I consider this place seven miles and a half 
east 8° north of Hamera. Low table-topped hills bound the view 
to the northward. The plains whicli occurred at intervals between 
the sand hills, were covered by brittle stones, resembling pieces 
of yellowish earthen ware, and ringing when struck by iron. At 
2. 15. we set off, and proceeded east 17° north ; met three more 
Angela prisoners, and eight camels laden with merchandize, which 
they had brought from Egypt, and which, with themselves, were 
seized on their entering Zuela. At four we passed a flat hill on 
the left, running east and west for many miles, called Mengar ; 
some talhh trees are scattered on the plain at its foot, which 
afford a lasting joke against the people of Zuela. A man coming 
from thence, in great dread of meeting the Waled Suliman, a band 
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