s place, notwithstanding we heard on every side the
roaring of leopards. We deliberated on the means of securing ourselves,
but sleep soon put an end to our fears. Scarcely had we slumbered a few
hours when a horrible 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 desirous 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 muskets, aimed 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 howlings 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
towards the south.

Our situation had been thus perilous during the night; nevertheless at
break of day we had the satisfaction of finding none amissing. 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 with Mimosa or sensitive plants, presenting to our sight a
scene we had never before seen in the Desert. The country is bounded as
it were by a chain of mountains, or high downs of sand, in the direction
of north and south, without the slightest trace of cultivation.

Towards ten in the morning some of our companions were 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 instantly directed our steps thither. We had to
pass great downs of sand very slippery, and arrived in a large plain,
streaked here and there with 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.[5] A