plain, and thrust out lofty bluff promontories, as into the
sea. The upper lines of some of them were perfectly straight, as if
levelled by artificial means. We came to a solitary rock on the plain,
containing excavations that seemed to be the work of men. Here, we were
told, Dr. Oudney once stopped and breakfasted.

We have now a pretty correct idea of the great central table-land of
Fezzan. It is an elevation, not quite clearly marked to the eye on some
of its northern approaches, but dropping sheer to the plain at other
parts. Mourzuk is situated in a sandy depression on its surface, which
would probably be turned into a salt lake if there were sufficient rain.
The limits of the hollow, as of that of many others--Wady Atbah for
example--are not noticed by the traveller. Whether he approaches or
leaves Mourzuk, he seems still to be traversing a level plain, and only
finds his mistake by noticing the change in the nature of the ground,
the presence of marshes, of green vegetation, and of a heavy, stifling
atmosphere.

CHAPTER IX.

Plain of Taeeta--Fezzan Boundary--Fossils--Tuarick Behaviour--Valley of
Tabea--Observations--Fasting--Tuarick Habits--Scorpions and
Locusts--Visitors--Heat--Roads--Hot Wind--Pass of Abulaghlagh--The
Palace of Demons--Wheat hid in the Desert--Land of Demons--Kasar
Janoon--A dear Camel--Visit to the Kasar--Perilous Adventure of Dr.
Barth.

On the 8th we pursued our course over the monotonous undulating plain of
Taeeta, to which we had descended. It was a little hotter, because lower
than yesterday; and the country is more parched, more arid, more
desolate, than ever. No herbage for camels is found in these parts, and
we had been compelled to carry some with us from Wady Haghaneen, and to
wake up with dates, of which the camels ate voraciously as a treat.
Beetles and lizards were the only living things we saw.

Next day, the 9th, we rose before sunrise and made a good day of nine
hours, still over the same plain of Taeeta. About three hours before we
reached the well of Tabea we crossed the real boundaries of the Fezzanee
territory, although the Tuaricks seem to claim the pass on the mountains
as their own. The weather was hot, there being no wind. On these
occasions the afternoons are very oppressive, and the sun causes his
power to be unpleasantly felt until an hour before sunset.

From the plain to-day we had a view of the Ghat mountains, which seem at
a distance to present dif