water-marks. The rain-water at our camping-ground has an excellent
flavour, and I drank of it eagerly.

Round this pool we at length found the caravan waiting for us to come
up. The Germans and all others were well, except the Sfaxee, troubled
with a little fever. Mourzuk is a bad place to break down the health and
spirits, and those that became faint-hearted there would probably have
persevered had they got out into the bracing air of the desert. The
Tuaricks are very quiet. I sent word to Hateetah that it was impossible
for him to take presents from the Germans, as it was contrary to the
orders of Government. Shafou's son is very mild and circumspect.

Here also was Mohammed Boro, and although I had written strongly to
Tripoli about him, I considered it advisable after all, immediately on
arriving, to try and make friends with him. So I paid him a visit, and
told him that when the Tuaricks had conducted us to Aheer we should, of
course, place ourselves under his protection, that we might proceed to
Sakkatou. I sent him, also, some hamsah and dates. This gladdened him
much, for he is very short of provisions, and has many servants with
him; amongst the rest, two or three female slaves, one of whom, a fat,
buxom girl, must require prodigious nourishment.

When the pool of Ailouah is not filled by rain-water, recourse is had to
a well near at hand, which supplies sufficient quantities. How important
are wells in the desert, and how one learns to mark their existence!

The valley which we have been traversing three days from Sharaba to
Ailouah is called Barjouj, and is remarkable for the tholukh-trees,
which are scattered here and there throughout its whole extent. We are
now seven days from Ghât, and, about the same distance from Aroukeen;