creen myself from the cold. To prevent the sand from entering into my
eyes, I covered my head with a piece of packing-cloth, which I wore
about my middle. But I had scarcely closed my eyes, when I heard the
report of two gunshots, which appeared to have been fired hard by me,
and immediately I was seized by the body. I very readily threw off me
the covering of sand which I had made myself, and which was warm. One
of those who held me, asked me if I was wounded. I supposed that the
fire, which had taken hold of my linen, had come from the wadding of the
gun. "No," replied I, "but on what account do you treat me in this
manner?"--"Sir,"[30] answered he, "follow us." My master, who had been
awakened by the report of the gun, ran towards the place where he had
heard my voice. He complained of their abusing in such a manner one of
his slaves, and that they had violated the laws of hospitality towards
such a man as he was. The Arab of the mountains, in reply, told him,
with an imperious tone, that during the night he watched his flock, not
knowing that I belonged to his retinue; and having seen a man conceal
himself in the sand, he had supposed him to be one of those robbers,
who, during the night, come to carry off their young goats. Sidy Sellem
pretended to believe him, commended his zeal, and took me out of his
hands. As soon as he imagined that the village was all quiet, he left a
place where he was as much afraid of his own safety as mine.

[Footnote 30: The language which they speak in the Desert, differs
from that spoken in the capital. Sidy Sellem, who was considered
as a scholar among them, was obliged to repeat several times,
before he could make himself understood by Effendy, who
interrogated him in the presence of the Emperor.]

The Arabs of the tribe of Telkoennes are the worst situated of any that
I have seen in all the Desert. They live in the midst of mountains of
sand, raised by the winds. One would think they endeavoured to hide
themselves from the light of day, so difficult is it to penetrate into
their retreats, or to find the way out of them. The plains in their
neighbourhood abound with prodigious serpents. Three times I had
occasion to see them frighten our camels; and the animals, when
affrighted, fled, and obliged the baker and myself to take long races in
order to assemble them again.

At last we approached to the famous city of Guadnum, of which I had
heard so much talking for