324 SHIPWRECK or the medusa. 
when a terrible roaring of wild beasts awoke us, and made us 
stand on our defence. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and, 
in spite of my fears and the horrible aspect of the place, nature 
never appeared so sublime to me before. Instantly something 
was announced that resembled a lion. This information was 
listened to with the greatest emotion. Every one being de- 
sirous of verifying the truth, fixed upon something he thought 
to be the object ; one believed he saw the long teeth of the 
king of the forest ; another was convinced his mouth was 
already open to devour us ; several, armed with m^uskets, aim- 
ed at the animal, and advancing a few steps, discovered the 
pretended lion to be nothing more than a shrub fluctuating in 
the breeze. However, the bowlings of ferocious beasts had so 
frightened us, being yet heard at intervals, that we again sought 
the sea-shore, on purpose to continue our route toward the 
south. 
Our situation had been thus perilous during the night ; ne^ 
rertheless at break of day we had the satisfaction of finding 
none miseing. About sunrise we held a little to the east to get 
farther into the interior to find fresh water, and lost much time 
in a vain search. The country which we now traversed was a 
little less arid than that which we had passed the preceding 
day. The hills, the valleys, and a vast plain of sand were 
strewed Avith mimosa, or sensitive plants, presenting to our 
sight a scene we had never before seen in the desert. The 
country is bounded as it Avere by a chain of mountains or 
high downs of sand, in the direction of north and south, Avith- 
out the slightest trace of cultivation. 
Toward ten in the morning some of our companions \YBre 
desirous of making observations in the interior, and they did 
not go in vain. They instantly returned and told us they had 
seen two Arab tents upon a slight rising ground. We in- 
stantly directed our steps thither. We had to pass great 
downs of sand, very slippery, and arrived in a large plain, 
streaked here and therewith verdure; but the turf was so 
hard and piercing we could scarcely walk over it without 
wounding our feet. Our presence in these frightful solitudes 
put to flight three or four Moorish shepherds, who herded a 
small flock of sheep and goats in an oasis. At last we arrived 
at the tents after which Ave Avere searching, and found in 
them three Mooresses and two little children, who did not 
seem in the least frightened by our visit. A negro servant, 
belonging to an officer of marine, interpreted between us 
and the good Avomen, Avho, Avhen they had heard of our mis- 
