visited Mukni, at the castle ; and finding him surrounded by eatables, were invited to partake of them : but we discovered, that all his people, whilst it was his pleasure to remain, were fed by the natives, cost free. We laid in a sufficient stock of barley to supply our four horses, until we should arrive at Morzouk. April 2nd.—We took water for three days, on the camels, and passed along the Wadey, at 7, 15, A. M. Our friends here quitted us, in order to return to Tripoli, and we were now left to ourselves, amongst a strange people ; our hearts were heavy, and we conversed but little during the remainder of the day. The country, on rising from the Wadey, was a stony desert until noon, when we passed over plains capable of cultivation, but having no water. A t 4, 50, entered another Wadey, in which we saw a large herd of Gazelles ; and, passing through it until 5,20, we encamped. Made S. E. by S. thirty miles. The horses were turned out to graze on a large field of barley, belonging to the Orfilly. This place was called Gairi, \3^i or Sofagie. A mountain, south three miles, named Glia sis, and a distant range in the same direction, called Souarit Much good herbage. On the camels being unloaded, we found that an old Bornou black had died on the one which he rode. A melancholy howling was set up by the women, and the corpse was carried to a distance, and immediately buried.. An Arab, who was prowling about this evening, stole a gun belonging to one of the Sultan’s followers; but was detected, and bastinadoed in a most barbarous manner, by two men on each side, with green date sticks. After this part of his punishment was ended, a man mounted a horse, and started at full gallop, leading, or rather dragging this poor wretch after him. His wrists were tied together behind him; and the end of the cord which secured them was attached to the horse’s saddle. Had he fallen when thus dragged along, his shoulders must inevitably have been dislocated. April 3rd.—We journeyed all this day over a stony plain, without the least sign of vegetation, and covered with small stones, of about the size and form of lumps of sugar ; their surfaces appeared vitrified, and shone very much. In the evening, we got into a wadey where we found a well, and several talhh trees, so that we had abundance of fuel. We heard, during the night, repeated cries of jackals and hyrnnas. Made this day, S.E. twenty-eight miles. April 4th.—A t seven A. M. went on over a barren plain, having no water ; but were enabled to collect a few bushes for our night s cooking. At sunset secured our baggage, and lay in a gravelly flat. Jackals very noisy. Proceeded S.E. twenty-eight miles. April 5th.—Barren plain as before. At two P . M. ascended a steep hill, from which, in every direction, the country appeared quite desolate ;—found a few bushes on the top. On descending, at sunset, we pitched our tents, having travelled thirty-five miles, S.E. April 6th.—A t six A.M. we started, and passed over the wadeys Hait and .Zemzem r> j ; each having a few prickly bushes, on which our camels fed. The latter is of great length, and runs to the sea, in the Gulf of Syrtis. A t 1, 30, having passed a plain, where we found gypsum, and in some places, cockle-shells, we reached some sand hills to the well of Bonjem ; the water of which resembles, both in taste and smell, bilge water from a ship. I t lies in a stratum of black clay, about five feet below the sand. A t the distance of half a mile from the well, is a Roman castle, situated amongst some high sand hills : it is of an oblong form, having in the centre of each of the walls, which are towards the cardinal points, a large archedsgateway, between two strong towers. Each o f the former, with its flanking towers, is in a different style of architecture: only one remains quite perfect; the others have fallen, or áre partially buried in the sand. The stones of which these buildings are composed, are of
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