_. Were these trees adorned
with leaves--they are now fallen off, in consequence of the cold--the
country about would seem covered with a dense forest.

Our arrival amongst the Tagama is a new era in our journeying, it being
some time since we saw any men besides Kailouees. Overweg thinks the men
thieves and bad, and the women lascivious; but I observed in their
conduct nothing different from other Tuaricks. A man, however, offered
several women to Barth. I have never yet had such offers. Amongst the
things brought for sale are young ostriches and the eggs of ostriches. I
ate in the evening some flesh of the giraffe; it is pretty well tasted,
and something like beef. Hunting the giraffe is a great occupation with
the people of this village, and the flesh of the animal a source of
subsistence for them. They have, however, besides, cattle and flocks;
and the karengia, which has proved such an annoyance to us, is the
principal farinaceous food of these Tagama, as the bou rekaba is the
principal food of poor families in Aheer. Inasamet has, perhaps, a
hundred huts, covered with the skins of the bullock, and probably of the
giraffe. The latter animal is hunted by men mounted on horseback, who
throw their spears at it, and wound it under the belly. This is said to
be the only way of killing it, for the rest of its body is covered with
a sort of rhinoceros hide, of great thickness. Of this hide they make
famous sandals, which wear long.

It is difficult to decide how far this immense plain--which extends as
far as Aghadez on the N.W., to Gouber on the S.W., perhaps as far as the
plain of Senezrouft, on the route of Timbuctoo--passing, besides,
eastwards across the route of Bornou,--how far this vast space of desert
is a plateau to the surrounding countries; that is, whether higher or
lower than their level. We do not think it is a plateau in reference to
Aheer. There is another route to Damerghou, westward of this, on which
is situate the forest of Kob-kob, the place mentioned in the itinerary
which I procured from the people of Ghadamez.

_4th._--The morning was cold, with wind. The Tagama, I observe, have
many horses. Like their more civilised brethren in Europe, these people
find this the most tractable and convenient animal in every case where
the desert does not interfere.

We came south seven hours and a-quarter; after four, the wavy country
broke up into a deep valley; in another hour, on the right, was seen a
pool