The principal hunter got hold of the grey calico,
and would not let go until he had his full measure. Then how
deliberately he measured again with his long arms, with all the
appearance of justice, whilst he was filching off inches at once! Two
small carcases cost us about a mahboub. Wataitee pretends that these
hunters never carry provisions with them, but must catch wadan and oxen
or die. I made a tremendous supper of wadan, being as ravenous as a wolf
for a little meat and soup. The meat is so strong and nourishing, that
it threatened to produce injurious effects. It is necessary to be
cautious about indulging in unaccustomed food. Still this meat is far
superior to camels' flesh.
_9th._--We rose, and, with our accustomed regularity, started before
daybreak in search of water, for the Kailouees are without this element
essential to life in the desert. Having continued about six hours and
a-half, we encamped in Wady Aroukeen. It would not have been necessary
to come to this place, had our imprudent Kailouees taken in a sufficient
supply of water. This wady lies east and Tajetterat west.
Our course had been over an elevated rocky plain; but I had no idea of
the height to which we had arrived. Suddenly the ground broke up on
either side of the track into rocky eminences, and we now came to the
brow of a sharp descent. The valley of Aroukeen wound as it were like a
snake far down at the bottom of an immense hollow, surrounded on all
sides by an amphitheatre of savage-looking mountains--great stony
swells, made hideous here and there by crags and ravines, and piled away
on all sides in shattered magnificence.
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