Observed this day that the driver of one of the camels, which had joined us at Zeghen, was a blind man: he held by the animal’s tail, and was in the habit of going constantly over this uneven, and, in some places, dangerously steep track between Sockna and Morzouk. I learnt from Khalifa that one of his Khādems had died in the morning, and that he had stopped behind to bury her. Sunday, 20th February. Thermometer 30′ below 0°.—At 7.30. passed over some gravelly plains as the day before. The horizon was as perfectly level as that of the sea. We saw a great deal of Shrab شراب, or false water. This plain is scattered with the carcasses of the numerous animals which have died on it after passing the mountains. No ravenous animals are found here, so that it is rare to see a skeleton deprived of flesh. At 1.30. we passed El Ramle Kebeer, or the large sands, which is a range of sand hills running to a great distance to the east-south-east from our right hand. At 6.30. stopped, having travelled north 35°, east 35 miles. The slaves were much fatigued, and I placed a couple of little children on my horse, whilst I rode on a camel. Belford’s Maherry was in very poor plight; but I determined, if possible, to get him to Sockna. The hills of El Gaaf, which are placed on the right and left of the road before us, bore thus: north-east point of the western range north 27° east; west point of the eastern range north 66° east. A raw night, much sand blowing over us. Monday, 21st February. Thermometer 3°.—At 7.15. set off. At nine, passed the eastern Gaaf, and at ten the western. 11.20. rose gradually to the beginning of Soudah. I walked, and my two camels were made use of by some of the poor fatigued Negresses, who were ready enough to mount them. We passed over a plain of white shining stones, called El Maytba Bayda الميتبايده, and then over a black one called El Maytba Soudah الميتباصوده, which is covered with large detached black masses of basalt. At 2.15. descended to a long wadey, having a few Talhh trees طالح, and running north and south, called Temesheen طمشين. At four passed this, and ascended with difficulty to another mountain top. At five we descended by an equally dangerous track to a narrow wadey, called Finger فنقر, where, as the slaves were very much exhausted, we lay for the night. My own Maherry had fallen very lame this day in consequence of the sharpness of the rocks we passed over; I therefore lightened his load, and allowed no one to mount him. A remarkably high and black mountain, called Kohol كخل, or black, bore north-west about ten miles. We had proceeded this day north 35° east, 30 miles.