OOO 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IX. 
persons of more science and ability than myself, I did not attempt 
to search for any inscriptions. My short visit, however, afforded me 
much gratification, and I returned to the track of my companions, 
whom I came up with at seven, having travelled north-north-west 
thirty miles. 
Wednesday, March 22nd. — I found myself much better. Fine 
morning. At seven we pursued our course over mountains covered 
with verdure, and at nine came to a Eoman well standing at the foot 
of an old castle, which appeared to have an arched communication 
with it, to be used in time of war. This well was in a narrow deep 
ravine, which the castle commanded. We found the old Turk and 
his slaves waiting for us at the well ; they had gone past us in the 
dark. The old man was in great wrath ; some thieves having 
come in the night and robbed him of five hundred weight or a 
camel load of dates : suspecting his own hungry Arabs, he had 
ordered them to lie at a distance from the sacks. They told him 
they would pray to God that he might suffer for his suspicion; 
and were therefore not sorry to see him so soon punished for it. 
Some Bedouins among the rocks in the pass were the robbers ; 
one of his Negresses saw them in the act, but feared to wake 
her master, because he once beat her for disturbing him while 
asleep. Allien the old man related to me his misfortune, I gave 
him no consolation, but said I admired the ingenuity of the 
thieves ; and all our Arabs tauntingly told him that he had now 
paid his footing. 
We passed many fine corn-fields, and several enclosures with 
vines and figs, apparently very flourishing. Many large flocks were 
feeding on the plains. At three we stopped, one of Hadje Moham- 
med's camels having fallen from weakness. Lizari's Maherry fol- 
lowed his example, on which he sent the Arabs back to kill the 
animal, and they brought the meat to the Kaffl6, portioning it 
