this enchanted castle, over the plain, which was perfectly bare and
arid, until we arrived at Wady Atoulah, where we found the beneficent
ethel and some good pickings for the camels. Not pausing long here, we
proceeded another hour, and encamped in Wady Tahala, just in front of
the imposing Kasar, and full in view of the mountains of Wareerat to the
east.

The camels suffered much during the day's march. The Tuaricks had
another knocked up, and we two,--that of the blacks and one which I had
purchased of Mr. Gagliuffi. The latter could not bring his load, and we
were obliged to relieve him of all his burden; a great disappointment to
me, for I bought the animal as a strong one, to go up to Soudan. It was
a dear bargain, in comparison with the other camels which I purchased in
Mourzuk,--costing thirty-eight mahboubs and a half. I must recover the
money, and cannot allow Government to lose it. All our other camels came
on well, even those which cost me much less. The other is still behind
whilst I write: it is an old, worn-out, black Egyptian camel, and cost
only eighteen dollars.

I did not feel so much exhausted to-day as usual. I always take tea and
coffee on encamping, which restores my senses at least, and does me much
good generally. I dissolve mastic with the water during the hot hours,
and to-day drank at least three pints, but ate little.

The well is east from our encampment two hours, and under the mountains.
There is encamped the Sfaxee, who went by the more difficult route, to
arrive at Ghat before us; but it seems he will be disappointed. He
came by the pass by which I returned formerly from Ghat to
Mourzuk,--certainly too difficult and narrow for the transport of the
boat.

_15th._--I rose early, and marched about three hours and a half to the
well, under the Kasar Janoon; that is to say, four or five miles along
the base of the eastern wall of the Kasar. But this day's adventures
deserve more particular chronicle.

The Germans had determined to go and examine the Kasar, and were about
to start just as I came out of my tent. They had had some altercation
with Hateetah, because, partly for superstitious reasons, he would not
give them a guide, and they had made up their minds to undertake the
exploration alone. I saw Dr. Barth going off somewhat stiffly by
himself; Dr. Overweg came to where I was standing, and asked Amankee, my
Soudan servant, about the well near the Kasar, and then also went off.
He