gardens.

Wady Gharby, and Es-Shaty, have already been described. In the sands
between these two places are situated the celebrated natron lakes, in
which that miraculous dud ("worm") spontaneously appears at certain
seasons of the year, and is eaten as people in Europe eat sardines--to
sharpen the appetite. The natron is also a source of profitable
exportation. Wady Sharky almost exactly resembles Wady Gharby, in
population and natural features.

Sharkeeah, besides some insignificant places, includes the interesting
ancient capital called Zoueelah, whence the name of Zoilah is given by
the Tibboos to all Fezzan. Half the population of this place consists of
Shereefs, and there are indeed great and increasing numbers of this
class of persons throughout the whole country.

Ghatroun includes, with Tajerby the most southern place of Fezzan, three
small towns. The inhabitants are all black, speaking the Tibbooese and
Bornouese languages, and very little Arabic. The other nine districts
above enumerated contain a mixed race, like the population of Mourzuk;
but some of the northern towns are inhabited by people of purer blood,
with comparatively fair complexions.

Mourzuk itself, the seat of the Pashalic,--distant about four hundred
and twenty miles from Tripoli, in a straight line, and five hundred,
counting the sinuosities of the road, _viâ_ Benioleed, Bonjem, and
Sockna,--is a rising town, becoming daily more salubrious by the
improvements made since the residence of the Turks here, and the
subjection of the inhabitants to a more orderly and powerful government
than they had been accustomed to. The British Consul, Mr. Gagliuffi, has