The general aspect of the country presents an almost universally barren appearance; fine yellow sand, and a species of gravel, covering the whole face of the plains, save where the Soudah and Harutz extend. The country is very dry, there being only three springs in this immense tract; they are near Traghan; but water is found in many places at ten or twenty feet below the surface, in clay or beds of salt. There is no vegetation on the desert, unless in some of the wadeys, where are found prickly bushes for camels, called Agoul اقول, Thamaran ظمرعن, and Deesa ديسه, and a few trees of the mimosa species, called Talhh ظالح. It is only in the immediate vicinity of towns that palms are cultivated, and a little corn and a few esculents raised with much difficulty and labour. Nothing is more incorrect than the opinion so generally held of the fertility of the Oases. Fezzan may, without scruple, be said to stand in the desert, and is not to be distinguished from it on the score of fertility. The soil, where soft, is almost all sand; but under the surface, near Morzouk, a kind of white clay is found, which, on being mixed with the sand, becomes tolerably productive. The small spots of ground which are at all cultivated, are fertile; but the immense labour requisite to keep the ground moist, deters the labourers from forming gardens of above an acre in size. Some of the spots so called, are not above forty or sixty feet square. The water is drawn by asses, and the machinery is very complicated. Soda, called Trona الطرون, rock salt, alum, Shub شب, gypsum, saltpetre, and, as I was told, sulphur, are found in this country; the first three in very large quantities, which form articles of trade. The Soda is produced at or near Germa, in the wadey Shiati; the salt and alum in many places, but more particularly in the eastern districts. There is one plain of solid salt near Mafen, which is nearly thirty miles in length. The animals found in Fezzan are, _The Tiger Cat_, rather fierce. _Hyæna_, in great numbers, and very savage. _Jackal._ Numerous. They approach very near the towns. _Fox._ Scarce, and much smaller than those of Europe. _Wadan._ A very fierce buffalo, of the size of an ass, having large tufts of hair from the shoulders, and very long heavy horns. _Red Buffalo._ A clumsy animal, easily taken. _White Buffalo._ A small white animal, very swift, and courageous when wounded. _Antelope._ Few are found near Morzouk. _Wild Cat._ Found in the rocks. _Porcupine._ Living in the wadeys near Bonjem. _Hedgehog._ Met with about the wells, and eaten by the Arabs. _Rat._ Of two colours, yellow and brown; the latter are found in houses, the yellow on the desert: both have hairy tails. _Guntsha._ An animal of the rat species, black, having a bushy tail, and head resembling that of a badger: lives in palm-trees, and is easily tamed. _Mouse._ Of two kinds, like the rats; one yellow, the other brown. _Gerboa._ Found only on the desert.