has a very strong
flavour of herbs; that is to say, what is commonly imagined to be the
flavour of herbs in general. The people now go a long way for wood. The
tholukh-trees of the valley are not allowed to be cut down; they are
always preserved as a resource for the time of drought and dearth, when
the flocks can find no herbage in the valley. The boughs are at such
junctures lopped off, and the flocks are fed on the leaves. Thus I have
seen the goats and sheep fed on the tholukh-leaves on the plains of
Mourzuk, as well as near this place. Another reason may induce En-Noor
to save the tholukh-trees,--that there may be a perpetual shade and
verdure in the valley of Tintalous. There are many finer valleys than
this in Asben, and were the trees not preserved, it would be a very
barren, unlively spot.

This evening, two hours after sunset, Venus exhibited her most splendid
phasis: the west, where she was setting, about half-an-hour before she
disappeared, was lit up as if it was moonlight. On concealing the
planet, the effect produced was that of the setting of the moon. Every
star was eclipsed in the western circle of the heavens, I never saw
anything before equal to this. I could here fully realise the words of
Scripture, that the stars were made also "to give light upon the earth."

The manner of saluting and shaking hands amongst the Kailouees deserves
notice: they first hold up the right hand with the palm outspread, like
the Tuaricks of Ghat. Afterwards, when more companionable and familiar,
they take hold of hands, and press them lightly some five or six times
or more, if great friends, and conclude this pressing of the hand with a
sort of jerk, drawing quickly off each other's hand. In taking hold of
the hand of your friend, you fit your thumb in the circle formed by his
thumb and fingers, and every time you press his hand, and he presses
yours, you separate the hands from each other.[5]

[5] This mode of shaking hands is common among the Fellahs of
Egypt.--ED.

_Nov. 1st._--The month has set in with wind,--not gusts, but steady
wind, continually blowing from E.N.E. It is stated positively that we
leave here to-morrow morning, whether the people return or not from
Aghadez. I register all reports as I hear them, though perfectly aware
that we have not been yet quite let into the secret of the singular
migration in which we are about to bear a part. The greater number of
the men of Tintalous have gone to