233 
ceding days. We halted to breakfast a little after ten 
o'clock. 
Whilst I was taking some moments repose in my 
tent, several Turks who had no water formed the pro- 
ject of taking possession of mine, which I no longer 
confided to the care of any one. My tent was open in 
order to admit a free current of air. The Turks arrived 
at the door, and seeing me asleep, respected my slum- 
ber, and withdrew without touching any thing. I wa« 
not informed of this until the next day. 
The want of water being felt more and more at every 
instant, we hastened to resume our journey by one 
o'clock, directing our course first to the E. N. E. and 
turning afterwards almost to the N. N. E. We passed 
near some natural salt pits, and halted at five o'clock 
almost upon the shore of the Mediterranean, in a place 
called Messaoudia, where we found several wells of 
drinkable water. 
Sunday, 12th July. 
The caravan directed its march to the east about four 
o'clock in the morning, keeping along the sea shore, 
and halted two hours afterwards among the palm trees 
of El Aarisch, at a short distance from the village. 
El Aarisch is an alcassaba similar to those of Mo- 
rocco, except that the castle notwithstanding the disad- 
vantage of its position has been put into good condition 
by the French, and furnished with octagonal towers for 
artillery. It is defended by twelve pieces of cannon. 
The alcassaba is surrounded by several houses, which 
I was informed contained two hundred inhabitants. 
There are some wells, palm trees, and kitchen gardens. 
My wound was still doing very well, and promised 
fair to heal without suppuration. 
Vol. II. 2 G 
