among the Arabs of the Great African Desert. 43 
the camels were loaded with water. The Arabs told Scott that 
this well had been made by Christians, who once possessed this 
country, until expelled by the Moors or the Arabs. 
In this sandy district they saw no beasts, except a few deer 
in the valleys. Scott describes these deer as of a nankeen co^ 
lour, with black stripes along their sides, near the belly ; 
the nose, eyes, and tongue black ; the male had small straight 
horns without branches, the females none ; their legs were 
long and slender ; they were so fleet that the greyhound scould 
not catch them ; their size was inferior to that of an English 
sheep 
The only vegetation of this country was small bushes, and 
a low tree, called by the Arabs El Myrreh. The tallest of 
them is about three yards high, it has a red broad branch like 
a palm, and running roots like liquorice, about as thick as the 
finger, and sweet as sugar ; the roots are called Ferrada by the 
people, and eaten both by them and the cattle. The cattle 
were fond of this root as food, and it was reckoned good for 
them. 
There were here some birds, and the eggs of various wild- 
fowl were found in the sand, among which Scott particularly 
mentions one by the name of Wild Peacoch *!•. 
For eleven days their route lay through this sandy district, 
and then they entered upon a more firm sort of soil, w^hich 
sometimes presented a hilly surface, and occasionally extensive 
plains of hard clay, sprinkled over with some bushes, but with- 
out any other vegetation. The hills sometimes shewed rocky 
sides, on which dry mosses” J grew. This sort of country 
continued for about two months, during which they went 
through several valleys containing small streams of water, so 
brackish that it could not be drank ; and they passed by some 
mines of salt, and brimstone. The former appeared like white 
rocks in some vallejs, and the latter looked hke white and yel- 
low rocks. Scott knew the salt by its taste ; and having broken 
off a piece of the brimstone, he found it to be very hitter j and 
* This is evidently an Antelope, and probably a new species. It has soms 
affinity to the Antilop^ oryx. 
•j- Perhaps a bustard, ^ Lichens. 
