344 TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. chap. IX. 
OF THE DESERT. 
Having, from the time of leaving Tripoli until my return from 
Fezzan, been constantly on the Desert, I shall endeavour to give a 
description of the country so called. In all our maps, Sahara is the 
appellation used to distinguish that immense tract, known also by 
the name of the Great Desert. 
Oasis is the term used for fertile spots or islands, said to be 
situated on the Sahara ; and Fezzan is supposed to be one of these 
Oasis : whereas, it is now evident, that it also is a Desert, with the 
exception of palms and small gardens, cultivated with great labour 
and difficulty, in the immediate vicinity of towns. No herbage 
ever grows spontaneously, except in wadeys or amongst rocks ; and 
these in such small patches, that I never yet saw a spot covered 
with verdure of the size of a table, unless in the mountains near 
Tripoli. The Arabs have a name for every description of waste or 
desert, viz. the following : 
1 Sahar syu^. 6 Wishek cXij^. 
2 Ghrood ^^^a. 7 Ghraba or Jezeera <oU. 
3 Sereery_^. 8 Soobker y^^-. 
4 Warr^£j. 9 Wadey ^^K. 
5 Hatia jula-. 10 Gibel Jju*-. 
Sahar is the name commonly used to particularise that descrip- 
tion of Desert which is of sand alone, forming a plane surface, 
without either stones, rocks, water, or any sustenance capable of 
supporting animal or vegetable life, with a smooth horizon and 
without beaten paths. 
Ghrood are those species of sand hills which I mentioned having 
once or twice passed in Fezzan : they are of an indefinite height, 
