f the horizon.
The lightning flashed, sometimes above, sometimes between, the isolated
hills, showing them like long black tents pitched here and there on the
plain. Our beasts moved eagerly on; and their drivers, though accustomed
to such phenomena, were hushed into awe. The tempest did not last many
minutes; but it was accompanied by wind so violent that we could
scarcely preserve our seats in the saddles, and finished off with so
violent a shower of rain that we got quite wet through almost in an
instant. This is a fair warning that we are really within the tropics.

We made fourteen hours that day, and felt dreadfully exhausted on
arriving at the place where we expected to encamp for the night. In two
hours, however, the Kailouees came and told us that there was no more
water in the skins; that the camels were restless, knowing that a well
was ahead; and that it was better to move on at once, and make for the
well of Aisou, that marks the commencement of the Aheer territory. We
started, therefore, again, although I was suffering from illness, and
moved on all night, nodding in our saddles in a half-slumber, that to
those unaccustomed is almost more fatiguing than watchfulness. Several
times I felt inclined to insist on a halt; but the people, who were
eager to arrive, cried out that _the camels wanted to reach the water_;
and proceeding accordingly, about seven o'clock the next morning we at
length reached the Seven Wells. We found only two open, the others being
closed up by sand. Some of them belong to the Kailouees, and the others
to the Tuaricks of Ghat. There is no good feeding for the camels, only a
few tufts of coarse herbage. The kingdom of Aheer presents itself under
grim colours. I did not move about this day, but consecrated it to rest.
The rocks of Asben rise above the horizon.

_18th._--Bidding adieu to the land of Ghat--if that name can be applied
to the desert which we have just traversed--we left the Seven Wells, and
once more entered upon the desert. We had scarcely been in motion two
hours, when there was an alarm of Haghar coming upon us from behind. I
did not at first know how the report originated, and looked anxiously
around upon the desert expecting to see a body of enemies charging down
some valley. All the people ran for their guns, and I hastily delivered
out powder and ball. It was amusing to see the slaves with their bows
and arrows, coming forward and trying to look martial. I have no do