During the greater part of the night of the 24th we reposed. At dawn of day, on the 25th, we started fresh on the last march. Just when day had broken over half the heavens, _I saw Ghadames_! which appeared like _a thick streak of black_ on the pale circle of the horizon. This was its date-woods. I now fancied I had discovered a new world, or had seen Timbuctoo, or followed the whole course of the Niger, or had done something very extraordinary. But the illusion soon vanished, as vanish all the vain hopes and foolish aspirations of man. I found afterwards that I had only made one step, or laid one stone, in raising for myself a monument of fame in the annals of African discovery! FOOTNOTES: [12] The term Rais is applied by these people both to a naval and military commander, the literal meaning being "head." [13] When an European arrives first in a remote Barbary town, although there may be many Europeans in the place, he is mostly called and mentioned in Moorish society as "The Christian," which happened to myself in Mogador. [14] How strangely the genius of nations of such different habits have given the name of "sisters" to separate groups of trees. I have also passed twin peaks of mountains in Africa, called "brothers" by the Arabs. But _Bou_ or _Abou_, "father," is the ordinary appellation of things in North Africa. _Omm_, "mother," is also very common. The two last are found in combination. [15] Long names are not confined to European rank and royalty. The Sheikh's name in full is, "The Sheikh Bel Kasem Ben Ali Abd-el-Hafeeth, the Rujbanee." And this is only the quarter of the length of some of these names. [16] So I found it written in the first portions of the journal. [17] _Yâkob_, Arabic for James. [18] There were certainly several slaves walking; but they were all long accustomed to it, whilst Said had only just come out of a weaver's establishment, where he had been many years. [19] Turkish, "a row;" but mostly "war," "battles." CHAPTER IV. RESIDENCE IN GHADAMES TO BEGINNING OF THE RAMADAN.