All the inhabitants of Ghanet[11] are Maghata, or descendants of the
children of the Tuaricks, Haghar and Azgher, which were born to them by
their slaves. It is these Maghata who were said to be in pursuit of us
under Sidi Jafel. There are many of the same people in the open desert,
for the most part bandits, or at least inclined to that way of life.
They levy contributions on the caravans, and on the settled people when
they can venture.
[11] This is the oasis of Janet, mentioned previously.--ED.
The valley, which embraces Seloufeeat and Tintaghoda, is said to extend,
by a series of connexions, as far as Zinder,--probably a fanciful
connexion of the people. It is a most picturesque wady, lined with black
granite rocks, some rising high into castellated peaks on the
south-east, with a lower range of hills on the north-west. It is not
above half a mile wide in its mean breadth; herbage does not abound over
all its bed, but trees cover its surface. The water is mostly rain
water; here and there, however, springs are found. All the water is
good, and copious in supply.
If we may judge from what we have seen of the marks of late rains in
these districts, and the freshness of the herbage, the rainy season is
just beginning in Aheer. There is not yet very abundant herbage, but it
will soon greatly increase.
The rain continues to pour in torrents, the boundary mountains on either
hand are scarcely visible, and a watery vapour prevents us from tracing
the course of the valley.
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