S02 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. VIII. 
hills of yellow limestone. At eleven the plain became more distinct ; 
distant hills to the right, and desert plain extending to the left : this 
latter was called El Ghrazzie At 1. 15. mountains closed in, 
in the form of a crescent, having two black hills half a mile from the 
road, called Roos Ghraab ^j^^la^jj, or the heads of the ravens. At 
two arrived at Temenhint c:.JLsi:^^, having travelled N. 56°. E. 15 
miles. In the evening we had occasion to buy straw for the camels, 
in a way I had never before seen, of the people who came out from 
the town to trade with us. Shreef Sadig soon instructed me in this 
new mode of barter. The person who has to sell mentions what 
he wishes in exchange for certain commodities, whether oil, liquid 
butter, or shahm, which is a kind of salted fat much resembhng bad 
tallow in taste and smell. If hquids, he pours water into a pot in 
proportion to the quantity of oil or butter he requires ; if solids, he 
brings a stone of the size of the shahm, or other article demanded. 
The buyer pours out water, or sends for smaller stones, until he 
thinks a fair equivalent is offered. The quantities then agreed for 
are made up to the size of the stone, or the depth of the water. 
Temenhint is so completely surrounded by date trees, that it is 
not seen from the road. It is a small walled village, and considered 
by traders as the most inhospitable in Fezzan. 
Wednesday, I6th. Therm. 1°. — At 7. 30. started. Stony desert 
to the left and right, with bushes occasionally. At 9. 45. descended 
to a sandy hati'a, called Hatia Gurmayda i^j^j^jj^^. At 4. SO. 
arrived at Zeghen ^jvj ; having travelled N. 75*'. E. 22 miles. We 
built up our goods under the walls, and lay there. Having been 
so long accustomed to black faces, I fancied that the natives, who 
are entirely a white population, looked sickly. The women are 
reputed to be very handsome ; but I did not enter the town, and if 
I had done so, should not have seen them. We had numerous 
visitors, and a large supply of food, Lizari's general acquaintance 
