to find
one piece, or, rather, a small bunch of pellucid drops, of a bright
amber-colour. The bunch was scarcely exuding from the tree on which it
was found, and was ready to drop when touched, hanging by the slenderest
connexion. It was even somewhat disposed to become liquid. This gum is
found only on the small young trees. The taste was very pleasant. It is
astonishing how little gum has been picked off these trees by our
people, although we have passed tens of thousands of them _en route_.

The slaves of the caravan were having a game amongst themselves this
morning. They brought into my tent a man bound as dead, and I was
obliged to pay a handkerchief to relieve myself of the bad omen. Such a
thing is considered a horrible thing if you do not buy away the ill
effects of it. This is certainly an easy way of collecting money and
goods. It was, however, amusing to see the fellow, how still he lay;
truly it was as still as death. The ceremony itself arose out of the
culprit, or man bound, having lost our camels, a circumstance which has
detained us here to-day. The herdsman was thus punished for his neglect;
and so all these African people have an amusing way of turning their
misfortunes into fun, as well as of making a profit out of them. I have
already observed before, that every misfortune we have suffered has been
a benefit to the Kailouees. This has made them so careless about what
might happen to us.

_21st._--Our course was generally nearly south, but often a little
winding. Baghzem was always on our right, until we left it behind us, on
the north-west. This mountain has, probably, been so much celebrated in
all past times, because it is the most conspicuous object on the return
route from the south to the north. Overweg conjectures that it is
granite. He had no servant at hand yesterday to visit it with him, and
he did not like to go alone, because it swarms with lions.

We passed to-day mostly through undulating country, a sort of ground
which, in the Sahara, lies generally between the plateaux and the high
rocky ranges. From one of the lesser heights we had a magnificent view
of Baghzem. We passed also through and along several fine wadys, lined
with ancient trees. Perhaps, in some places, full half of the trees were
decayed, and many only naked stumps. The trees were so thick in certain
places as to deserve the name of forests--primeval forests--but, I
imagine, not to be compared with those of America.