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of a number of these ditches, parallel to each other. 
They cultivate some few vines in this manner. 
Every fig-tree is surrounded, and perfectly enclosed 
by a large hedge of dry branches of palm-trees, which 
joins the extremity of the boughs of the tree. This 
method shelters the ground at the foot of it from the 
sun, prevents the moving sand from accumulating 
round its trunk, and preserves the moisture. It also 
defends the fruit from being stolen by the passengers, 
or the beasts of the desert. When there are three or 
four trees together, they are so united or bound, that 
their branches are interwoven; and being shut in by a 
hedge, they are as well preserved from the sun and 
sand, as a single tree would be. When, after being fa- 
tigued by a march across the vast sandy desert, the tra- 
veller arrives at a spot where there is a plantation of fig- 
trees, melons, and vines, it is impossible to describe the 
pleasure he feels; and how much his eyes and heart are 
delighted to behold the least vegetation. In the whole 
of this desert there are not above four of six douars or 
villages, whose inhabitants live very poorly; their whole 
property consisting in a few beasts. 
There are a great many chakals and lizards, and an 
astonishing number of gerboa in the desert; the latter 
are very pretty little animals, which have been well de- 
scribed by the celebrated traveller Sonnini. 
The confused mixture of all nations which composes 
the inhabitants of Alexandria, occasions all languages 
to be spoken there, which are generally spoken badly; 
for in this modern Babel every one tries to make himself 
understood by his neighbour, which causes him almost 
to forget his native language. The children learn im- 
