SECTION VII.
Departure from Schiacha— .arrival at Augila.
On the fifth day (reckoning hy our departure from Siwah,) we
left Schiachaj and travelled about four hours, when we encamped
The next morning in two hours and a half, We came to a is nc
called Torfauc, where we halted to collect fresh water: from this
place we departed at four m the afternoon of the same day, and
continued our march until eight the next morning, through a desert,
the level of which was interrupted by numerous sand-hills; at eight
o’clock we stopped to refresh, and rested till two o’clock, when we
again pressed forward, and continued our march till eight m the
morning, when we encamped till one. At one we again proceeded,
travelled all night, and till three o’clock the next morning, when the
party with whom I travelled, discovered, that during the night, we
had wandered from the caravan; we resolved thereon to halt and
await the return of day. We placed our baggage by the side of
each camel, to be enabled on emergency, to load again with dispatch,
and I laid me down to sleep on the sand, with the bridle m
one hand, and my firelock in the other, and slept soundly till
sunrise.
We now discovered tiur caravan; and at the same time, that we
were not above half a mile from a spot, fruitful and abounding m
water We immediately made up to the place and encamped. The
iourney from Torfauc to this spot, was the most disagreeable and
fatiguing that in the course of all my travels I had experienced. Both
men and cattle were so wearied and exhausted, that as soon as the
baggage was unladen, all resorted to sleep. We here reposed the
whole day, and the next set forth for Augila, by short marches,
(altogether not amounting to more than nine hours travel); we
used no haste, as having nothing to apprehend, being now in the
country of our friends.
Our entry into Mojabra, one of the three places belonging to the
dominion of Augila, was solemn and affecting, as the greater part
of the merchants of our caravan had here habitations and families.
The Bey of Bengasi, Vicegerent for the Bashaw of Tripoly, and at
that time resident at Augila, sent about twenty of his Arabs to note
in writing the burden of the camels, and for which they demanded
a small duty. These Arabs then ranged themselves, and formed a
right wing to our caravan, drawn up for procession The merchants
who had horses formed the left, and the pilgrims and ordinary Arabs-
formed the centre, headed by the Sheik preceded by a green flag.
The pilgrims marched on singing; and the Arabs made their horses
prance and curvet, and so continued until we approached near to
Mojabra ; where a number of old men and children met us, to felicitate
and get a first embrace of their sons and relations, whom, on.
hearing of the French invasion in Egypt, they had given over as
lost.
We pitched our tents in a spot adjoining the town, and were
most hospitably entertained. The following night I proceeded on
my journey towards Augila, in- company with two merchants, one
of whom procured me a lodging on my arrival, it being the intention;
of the caravan to stop longer than usual at this place.
There are three towns within the territory of Augila; Augila,.
the capital, and Mojabra,. and Meledila. The two last are near to