To the Americans, these people were of great interest. The men and women dressed almost alike, in a long, white robe that reached to the ankles. A tight-fitting cloth was wound around the head, and the back of the neck was protected from the sun by a black veil. They were of a naturally swarthy complexion, which was still further darkened by the fierce desert heat. "Not very pleasant to look at," said Bob to his chum. "But they sure are giving us a hearty welcome." "That's probably because they're so unused to seeing strangers," Joe remarked. "Nearly all friendly natives are that way." The Arabs led the explorers into the main part of the village, where there was a large open space before the chief's, or sheik's, hut. Suddenly the head native stopped and pointed to a distant large rock. He babbled animatedly to Tishmak and Fekmah, whose faces took on a look of disgust. "Sheik say over there is a place where they bury those guilty of witchcraft," Fekmah explained to the Americans. "They put to a terrible death, and then their bones taken over there." Mr. Holton shook his head repulsively. "Ignorance is the root of evil," he said. "These people are even worse off than the Negroes of the Congo. They so infrequently come into contact with civilization that they have degenerated into a state of almost nothingness." "With even more respect for Fekmah and Tishmak, the Arabs in many remote sections of the Sahara are a bloodthirsty, treacherous, and immoral people," put in Dr. Kirshner. "They do not at all compare with their brothers in Algiers and other places nearer the coast." Fekmah nodded. "Praise be to Allah that I was not born here," he muttered. The sheik invited the explorers to stay for dinner, but Fekmah politely refused, saying that they must hurry on. "We have many miles to go yet," he told them in the native tongue. "If we are to get far today we must be going now." The explorers left the village for their camels, the Arabs shouting warm farewells. "Professor Bigelow ought to be here," smiled Joe, referring to a famous anthropologist who had accompanied them on their expedition in Brazil. "Wouldn't he be tickled," laughed Mr. Lewis. "But then--maybe he's already been here. He has been about everywhere else studying primitive people." Soon the adventurers were out of the narrow valley, again taking up the journey. They were glad to get started again, welcoming any new sight in the way of oddly shaped rocks, deep valleys, and other formations of nature. Darkness was rapidly falling, but they kept traveling until it became impossible to see ahead. Then Tishmak held up his hand for them to stop. Again they waited for the moon, not continuing the trip until it came out. "Tonight we must make up for the lost time at village," said Fekmah. "We can stand to stay up an hour later." It was not until eleven o'clock that they finally came to a stop in a wild, rocky region. The tents were put up for the night.