_Saturday, April 8th._—At 3 A.M. Moussalli’s agent and the sheik of the camel drivers arrived. They had heard of our troubles and brought a fresh lot of camels. After much loud talking several changes were made. Some of the camels with their drivers were sent back to Berber, and others substituted. We have 53 camels now. We tried to be gay and rise above our troubles. The heat is intense. There is one well at this point about 50 feet deep, but the water is bad. Started the caravan at 4 P.M., and went on till 10 o’clock. Had dinner at 12:30 A.M. Put up the tent for doctor; the rest of us went to bed with the stars looking down upon us. _Sunday, April 9th._—This is the holy Sabbath and we would be glad to rest to-day, but necessity is upon us and we must move on. On a journey like this we cannot do as we would like, and have on several such occasions been obliged to keep going when we have longed for the sacred quiet of the day. I was so tired last night that an odd thing happened. I was _struck_ by sleep, as one might be struck by lightning, only the results were not so disastrous. I had tumbled into my cot, and was conscious of putting my hand out to draw the sheet over me, but before I had time to do it I was sound asleep, and awoke in the morning with the intention still unfulfilled. After a hasty cup of coffee we were off this morning at 6:30, and marched till 10:30. The sirocco has been blowing all day, and the heat is something terrible. Worked hard in the hot sun to get a tent up for our nooning. We are on an immense sandy plain, the ideal desert, and the heat reflected from the sand burns like a furnace. _Monday, April 10th._—We must press on to reach water. Midani is too ill to sit on his camel, so we have improvised a bed and placed him on it, and in this way go slowly on. Started at 6:30 A.M. We are still on a sandy undulating plain which seems endless, and the march is very wearisome. The Consul and Mourgan have both suffered from bleeding at the nose this morning. Camped for our nooning at 11:30. Poor Midani suffers exceedingly. We put up the tents, as the heat is terrible. Started again at 4:30 P.M. From here till one reaches the vicinity of Souakim the road is considered unsafe. We met some rather wild-looking parties, who, the guides told us, were brigands, but we were numerous and well armed, and they kept a respectful distance from us. Even the camel drivers do not dare to travel in this region without being armed with swords and spears and pistols. Met several caravans. Came to some very steep sand hills. The pass over the highest was so narrow and precipitous that I thought the camels could not possibly get safely over it, but they did. Reached the wells of _Aubak_ about 8:30 P.M. Found many wells and excellent water, but the water is easily riled. Took a good deep drink. Such a drink is worth a mine of gold on the desert. There are a number of caravans here.