234 
The thermometer placed in the sun at half past twelve 
stood at 53° 7'* of Reaumur, which proved the tem- 
perature had risen to two thirds of the heat of boiling 
water; at noon in the shade it had stood at 43° 5'.f 
There are computed to be two thousand inhabitants 
in the district of El Aarisch. 
Monday > 13th July. 
We were upon our march by two o'clock in the 
morning, still directing our course towards the east* 
We soon discovered some vegetable earth and unculti- 
vated land, with herds of cows, and other beasts; 
although the soil was in general very sandy. After seven 
hours march we rested at a short distance from a her- 
mitage, where reverence is paid to the tomb of a saint 
called Scheik Zouail. There is some water, and several 
villages or douars are to be seen around, with plantations 
of palm trees. Some of the inhabitants came to meet 
us, with some water-melons which they brought with 
them to dispose of. 
We resumed our journey in the same direction at 
half past eleven, and quitting the great road traversed 
some hills to the S. E.; the soil of which, composed of 
vegetable earth and sand, was under cultivation; there 
were also some herds of cattle. I remarked some fields 
completely burrowed with holes made by the rats, as I 
was informed by the people of the country, but I rather 
imagine they were the work of the djerboas. 
Turning afterwards to the N. E. and N. we de- 
scended into the plain, and our tents were pitched at 
'Khanyounes a little after five in the evening. 
It is generally reckoned four hours march from Scheik 
Zouail, to Khanyounes, in a straight line. 
t 152*° Fahrenheit, 
t 130« Fahrenheit, 
