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 Ghât
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