At 5. we entered the gardens and date groves of Traghan طرعغن which appeared in a higher state of cultivation than any we had yet seen, and at 5.45. arrived at the town, which stands clear of the gardens, on a flat desert plain. Yussuf having offered us his house, we put up there, although not without a great deal of clamour from an over-civil Negress and her husband, who, to do us more honour, shifted us and our baggage about without mercy. The Marāboot, the principal man here, sent to apologise for not being prepared to provide us with bread and meat. At 2. this day the thermometer was 25°. {from Hadge Hajeel 7 miles. We had travelled E. and by S.{ {from Zaizow 16 miles. -- 23 miles. Dec. 16th. Therm. 9°. Fine clear morning. I paid a visit to the Marāboot, who was sitting on an earthen mound, half naked, and in a very dignified manner, enjoying the heat of the sun. His dependants were seated round on the sand, listening with mute attention to the sagacity of his remarks. He was very fat, greasy, and consequential, and told me that all his family had been Marāboots, and equally eminent for learning with himself. On leaving him, full of admiration at his modesty, I went out to the gardens to see the springs, of which I had heard so much. As I was a stranger, and these springs were the pride of Fezzan, several people left their work to follow me, and to witness my surprise and admiration at the first sight of them. There are four ponds, each 30 or 40 feet in diameter, covered with a green crust, and containing innumerable frogs. Insignificant, however, as they were, I dismounted and drank heartily from them, although the water, even here, was not perfectly fresh. The gardens which are supplied from them are altogether as white with salt as those watered from the wells. A number of strange birds, resembling thrushes, but with longer tails, fluttered about us; but having no gun with me, I was unable to kill one. The date trees here are very thickly planted, and form a most agreeable shade. I got a meridian altitude of the sun, 81°. 1′. 30″. which gives the latitude 25°. 55′. N.