hin the circle simply room for
holding water, like a shallow pond, with fruit-trees, vines, fig-trees,
and pomegranates clustering around. These orchards, when thus formed
close by the well-side, are very luxuriant. People now begin to sow
ghaseb, ghafouly, dra, and such grains, which are reaped in the summer
season. Barley and wheat are sown in autumn or winter, and reaped in
spring. As I walked I noticed that the sky was darkly overcast, as if
threatening rain; and presently, sure enough, a few precious drops fell
on the thirsty sandy soil!

I observed a new plant, large, with broad and smooth thick velvety
leaves, but omitted to write down the name. It produces a milky juice,
with which the people dye the palms of their hands, instead of with
henna. The plant has a disagreeable odour, and every appearance of being
poisonous; but they say it is not so, being only bitter in taste.

_26th._--In my morning's walk I had the coolest weather experienced
since our arrival at Mourzuk. The wind was from the north-east and the
sky much overcast. It actually rained,--a slight shower of ten minutes'
duration. How gratefully the trees seemed to spread their leaves to
catch the pleasing drops! The gardens and groves all wore a happy smile.
We hear, that lately a great deal of rain has fallen in the Ghat
district, and on the route to Aheer.

The people are preparing to thresh their corn, and I was interested in
observing all the details of their process. They had scattered yesterday
evening the full ripe grain in its dry stalks over the ground, in the
form of a large circle, to the depth of about two inches; and had then
smoothed the sand all around in small ridges, so that if a thief came
during the night they might observe his footmarks. They thresh out the
grain by means of four or five asses or camels tied abreast, and driven
round and round over this primitive floor. Great waste is occasioned by
allowing the grain to mix with and sink in the sand; the task of
winnowing is most difficult afterwards.

_27th._--This day I had some conversation with Boro, the Sheikh of
Aghadez, about the country and localities of Aheer,--a Saharan kingdom
never yet explored, and which we intend to traverse on our circuitous
route across the desert. It appears that Aheer is the general name of
the whole cluster of towns and districts; that Aghadez is the medineh,
or city; and that Asouty is a town on the line of the caravan route to
Soudan,--a r