There was
nothing to please the eye but the delicate tints of the line of
sand-hills on the left--a faint yellow, at times mingling with the sky
when very luminous; and the round tholukh-trees, scattered like black
spots on the light sand of the valley. A little mirage figured a dark,
black lake, which, however, sparkled with light under the trees. Few
animals were seen: a young camel, left to graze in the valley, followed
us most cheerfully this morning.
We passed two or three wells in the course of the day, at a place called
Kouwana, with water near the surface, and obtained some by scraping out
the sand; we did not, however, take any up, because it was not very
good. Caravans seldom use these wells. No doubt there is water to be
found everywhere throughout the wady, which by a little care might be
turned into an oasis. Perhaps it was one in old times. There is now no
encouragement to cultivate any stubborn ground.
_July 2._--Two hours in getting off again! We started at six and went on
until past five in the afternoon, following a south-west course along
the same wady, with the same low line of sand-hills on our left, and
sand and the low edge of the plateau, which the people say extends many
days' journey, on our left. This valley is so shallow that it might
almost be considered as part of the plateau, and is, in fact, nearly on
a level with it; the temperature tells us we are on very high land.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156