CHAP. IX. RETURN TO TRIPOLI. 331 
with clouds of sand. Came to a well, but found it dry : our water 
was out, having been distributed without restriction. This caused 
no little sensation in the Kaffle, as we were said to be two days 
from any other well ; fortunately, however, the Arabs, in wandering 
about, found one which had been newly made amongst some hil- 
locks, about a mile from our track. Many flocks of large blue 
pigeons were flying round us. I shot one in very good condition. 
We travelled north-north-west ten miles. 
Tuesday, 14th March. — At 7. SO. went on, the weather very 
fine ; had two fruitless chases after partridges and gazelles. The 
sick Negress rode my horse, and was abused every five minutes by 
her master for feigning sickness. I yesterday shot an owl of the 
size of a dove, and having very beautiful plumage ; its eyes were 
marked black and yellow in circles, and it had those bunches of 
feathers, called horns, on each side the head. This day it became 
so putrid that I was obliged to give up the idea of stuffing it. At 
about a mile from our resting-place, was the water I have spoken of. 
We filled our gerbas there, but it was very bad, and my horse, as in 
a former case, refused to drink it. At 5. 30. we halted, not having 
made more than fifteen miles, as our camels stopped repeatedly to 
eat. We went on about north-north- west : passed this day several 
spots with young corn growing, belonging to the OrfiUy Arabs. 
The wadey we were in is called Sofajeen and is of great 
extent from east to west. 
Wednesday, 15th March. — We found that three of our camels 
had strayed in the night, two of mine, and one of Lizari's. We 
sent Arabs in search of them, and waited until noon, when we 
loaded the other camels, leaving the loads of the stray ones with 
two Arabs, together with some water and provisions. As there was 
no water for the slaves, we were obUged to move on, intending to 
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