222 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. V. 
a continuation of the mountains from Terboo runs nearly north and 
south, as far as the Mengar. 
This evening we had large bowls of sweet lackbi sent us, and we 
soon perceived that the people were great lovers of this Hquor. 
Five or six drunken men came and honoured us with their com- 
pany without any invitation. Kaid Saad sold to the women a great 
quantity of tobacco which he had brought from Zaizow, with which 
they were very glad to recruit their stock. We hired a guide for 
the desert, our two attendants being unacquainted with the road. 
Dec. 27th. Therm. 5°. At 9. 30. A. M. we set out, having taken 
water for three days in our gerbas. Our road lay over a plain of 
gravel, bounded by mountains close at hand, to the westward, and 
a distant range to the eastward. At 10. 30. Mejdool bore from a 
rising ground, IST. 44*. E. At 11. the mountains closed in, and our 
road lay through them. At 12. 10. we ascended to a rough stony 
plain, resembhng, in colour and badness of footing, some parts 
of the Soudah. Indeed, all the mountains here appear composed 
of nearly the same black irregular masses of basalt. Five or six 
Tibboo passed us on camels ; they were the first I had seen fully 
armed : every man had his three light darts, and his spear. At 2. 
we descended to a level plain, by a very precipitous pass. The 
mountain we descended is the most western of a low black chain, 
which bounds the view as far as the eye can reach, to the east- 
ward. The rocks here, which are of a clay stone, are, in many 
places, fantastically streaked with veins of a light pink colour. We 
stopped to rest ourselves under some Talhh trees, when I was 
alarmed by seeing my Maherry come towards me, foaming at the 
mouth, and champing like a mad animal. Besheer soon eased me 
of my fears, by telling me that he was eating bones, a circumstance 
