e progress of opinion. I afterwards
gave Lameen a present, consisting of one pound of tea, five pounds of
coffee, and four heads of loaf sugar. This was the first considerable
present I made. In the evening we observed Mercury in conjunction with
Venus. The heavens were unusually bright for Mourzuk. We saw also
Jupiter's satellites at seven in the evening. The two upper ones were
much nearer than the two lower ones to the great planet, but all in a
line. Mars was very bright. The rings, or extinct volcanoes of the moon,
were also truly transparent this evening. Usually the sky of Mourzuk is
charged with a dirty red haze, and not at all favourable to astronomical
observations.

_21st._--The culture of water-melons is progressing for the summer
season. The melons are planted in the irrigation ducts that lead to the
squares of clover, which is cultivated at this season for the horses of
the cavalry stationed here, and also for the camels of the merchants.
Every fifteen or twenty days a fresh crop is ready, all produced by
irrigation.

The fig-tree is found frequently in the gardens of Fezzan, and when
planted near a well, produces as fine fruit as those on the coast. The
rich green of its leaves is very refreshing to the eye. During the
present season, however, the greater portion of the gardens is devoted
to onion-raising. Whole fields are covered with this vegetable. Parsley
is running to seed. The korna is also seen in the suburbs. Few birds
visit the gardens of Fezzan, which are all planted with palms. One or
two groves have been recently added, and are distinguished as the "new
trees." The irrigated beds are covered with palm-shoots, the curving
fan-like leaves bending prettily over the ground.

The winnowing of grain is conducted in the most slovenly manner. The
ripe ears with the dry stalks are thrown on the sand, and then
half-a-dozen donkeys are driven over them--an animated threshing
machine. The grain, of course, mixes with the sand, and is separated
from it with considerable loss and waste of time.

The sandy soil of the gardens is sometimes mixed with a large quantity
of salt, which gives it a firm consistence. Of this soil the houses of
the city are built. Rain would melt them; but this blessing never cools
the scorching atmosphere of Mourzuk.[4]

[4] Showers of rain are subsequently mentioned, however; and it
is a mistake to suppose that the hard blocks of fossil-salt
mixed with earth, of