convertible terms. Bou Keta had considerable trouble in keeping to the
route, being reduced to depend chiefly on the camels' dung, which rolls
about the surface of the sand. Here and there was a patch of coarse
herbage, scattered like black spots on the bright, white surface. Every
object was very much magnified at a little distance; I saw what seemed
to me to be a horse on the top of one of the hills, but on drawing near
it proved to be our own greyhound bitch smelling the hot air.

Bou Keta gave some account of himself to-day. It seems that "Fezzanee"
is not a very respectable epithet in those countries.

"I am not a Fezzanee," said Bou Keta, abruptly.

"Then what are you?"

"My mother was a Tuarick woman, and my father one of the Walad
Suleiman."

"Then the Walad Suleiman are gentlemen, whilst the Fezzanees are Turks
and dogs?"

"That's the truth," quoth he.

To-day I found the veil of my sister-in-law of essential service.
Doubled, it shielded my eyes perfectly from the hot wind and sand. It
serves also as an excellent protection for the eyes against the flies
whilst I am writing. This is the second day of the hot wind. In the
evening we heard crickets singing in the scorching sand. At mid-day the
thermometer, when buried, rose to 122°° Fahr. We encamped in Wady
El-Makmak, where we had good water, far superior to that at Guber. As in