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Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 - Under the Orders and at the Expense of Her Majesty's Government by James Richardson
page 75 of 292 (25%)
perpendicular cliffs, which frown over the broken thread of green
vegetation in the valley. Thick forests of palms stretch at various
points along the low plain, where are springs plentifully furnished by
filtration from the high ground on either hand. The various kinds of
oasian culture are pursued here with success. Wheat and barley are
produced in considerable quantities; and camels, asses, and goats find
plentiful nourishment. The villages are numerous; but some contain only
few men, and none exceed forty-five. Takarteebah, the largest place,
pays four hundred and ninety mahboubs per annum, cultivates four
thousand palms, yielding a hundred and fifty kafasses of dates, thirty
of wheat, and eight of barley; it feeds eleven asses. I observed that
all domestic animals, the goats especially, attain a very diminutive
size in these oases, the nourishment for them being but scanty.

In this oasis the palm-groves are much more dense than in any other I
have seen. They almost merit the name of forests, both from their size
and wild luxuriant appearance. The Fezzanees pay little attention to
their culture, and when a tree falls it is frequently suffered to lie
for months, even though it block up the public road. In contrast to the
burning desert we had just traversed, these dense woods casting their
shadows on the white sand produced a most pleasing effect. We eagerly
wandered into the cool arcades, and watched with delight the doves and
hippoes, and other birds, as they fluttered to and fro amidst the
drooping leaves.

Laghareefah, like Edree, had been destroyed by the brilliant, though
ruthless usurper, Abd-el-Galeel, on account of its resistance to his
authority. The old town is at a little distance from the new, and was
evidently a much better-built place, commanded by an earthen kasr or
fortress.
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