They are scooped out of the sand in a stony bed, and amidst rocks.
The water is very palatable. It has no natural source, but there is an
abundant supply for several months, and even years, after great rains.
To-day we noticed, for the first time on our journey from Tripoli, the
recent marks of the fall of a great quantity of rain. It had left after
it exactly the same forms on the sandy valley which we see at all times,
quite dry, in the more desolated regions of the Sahara. There cannot be
a doubt that occasionally an immense quantity of rain falls in every
region of this great desert.
The senna plant was picked up again to-day, and the tree called aborah
appeared in great numbers in the wady, in a corner of which we encamped.
Although our friends, the three Haghars, promised to leave us for ever
if they had a supper, yesterday they appeared again _en route_ to chat
with their Tanelkum acquaintances. God knows, they may be honest men--in
reality, poor devils obliged to beg their way to Aheer. They wander
about here and there. (I have not seen them this evening, five P.M.)
Notwithstanding that the blacks of our caravan (mostly slaves) walked on
foot fourteen long, long hours yesterday, they still danced, and sang,
and played games in the evening, and kept it up till midnight! How
capable are these Africans of bearing up against fatigue and toil! Could
we Europeans do as they do? Not even in our own country, and under our
own climate.
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