me that he had observed a snake of the most venomous species, called Effa Ul', coiled up under a bush. I instantly armed myself with a ramrod, and having discovered the reptile, pinned it to the ground by a stab through the lower jaw. Belford just then came up, and fancying it was of a harmless kind, took it by the ta il: as he was on the opposite side of me, I did not perceive him, and having pressed another stick on the creature’s head, I withdrew the ramrod, in order to get a better hold of it. A t this moment Belford again pulled, and extricated the snake, which turned upon and attempted to bite him; its tail, however, luckily broke, ana it fell back into the bush, where I immediately despatched it. Had it wounded Belford, as it was on the point of doing, his death would have been inevitable, as we had no instrument at hand for cutting out the venom, or any fire with which to burn it, as is done with effect by the Arabs. On examining the snake, I found it was of the same species as some I had seen at Tripoli; those, however, did not exceed six inches in length, whereas this was about two feet long, and very bulky. Their colour is generally a dull reddish-, brown, with black spots; the belly yellow, and aspect particularly disagreeable and malignant. The movements of this snake are very peculiar: it does not propel itself in the same way as other serpents, but in a lateral manner, advances its right side, and then draws forward its head at each motion, while, in the act of gliding on, it forms a figure resembling the letter S. Our road lay through several gloomy wadeys, when, at three, we stopped in one called Tingareer A t 4. 15. the camels came up, and as the place afforded some few hushes, we encamped there for the purpose of refreshing them. April 24th Camels started at 5. 45. At ten, a distant mountain north-west, called El Kohol (from its blackness). At twelve, after passing a stony track, came to a wadey Mesheil J jA». At two P. M. cleared the mountainous part of the Soudah, and descended to a plain, El IMaitba Soudah from its being covered with small pieces of basalt. A t 2. 45. came to a spot called El Maitba Baida Ijjj, having not the slightest trace of basalt, and being covered with a very small white gravel. We did not see, any where, the least appearance of vegetation; but observed many skeletons of animals, which had died of fatigue on the Desert, and occasionally the grave of some human being. All these bodies were so dried by the extreme heat of the sun, that putrefaction did not appear to have taken place after death. In recently expired animals I could not perceive the slightest offensive smell; and in those long dead, the skin, with the hair on it, remained unbroken and perfect, although so brittle as to break with a slight blow. The sand-winds never .cause these carcasses to change their places, as in a short time a slight mound is formed round them, and they become stationary. A t 5. 50. we passed low table-topped hills east and west of us, called El Gaaf i f.s'l- This desert was named Sbir ben Afeen ‘‘¡¿YiLj'jtD ( A t seven we encamped. The plain round us presented so perfect a horizon, that an astronomical observation might have been taken as at sea. From the excessive dryness of the air, our blankets and barracans emitted electric sparks, and crackled distinctly on being rubbed. The horses’ tails, also, in beating off the flies, had the same effect. Our whole Raffle were much fatigued. This day we had advanced south-south-west, thirty-five miles. April 25th.—-At four, A, M. the camels set out; 8. 15. we passed some sand-hills, called el Ramie Kebeer jAjS’JJjll, or large sands. A t nine we came again on the plain, which was covered with a white encrusted clay; at three, P, M. passed el Ramie Shraya, or small sands, and at 4. 45. descended by some precipitous m 2
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