* ROUTE TO TliVTBUCTOO.

very dark, approaching to black, in their complexion : this province abounds in fortresses, like those of Tafilelt.

The caravans have not, as in the journey to Mecca, their sheiks or commanders. From Fas to Tafilelt they had no chief, but as there are generally a few old, rich, and respectable men in the caravan, its direction and government are committed to their care.

From Tafilelt, which, as before observed, is the country of the shereefs, they are guided by such of the trading shereefs as accompany the caravan, and who have always great respect paid them, till they arrive at Timbuctoo. The caravan increases as it proceeds in its journey : at Fas it consisted of about thirty or forty ; at Draha, of from 300 to 400 camels. From Draha, t the distance of three days' travelling, they found water by digging, and on the next morning they entered the Sahara, which, for the first twenty days is a plain sandy desert resembling the sea. In this desert, when they pitch their tents at niglit, they are obliged frequently to shake the sand from their tops, as they would otherwise be overwhelmed before the morning.

Some part of this desert is hard, and the camels do not sink deep into it ; in others the sand is very loose, which fatigues the camels exceedingly. In travelling, the caravan is directed by the stars at night, and by the sun in The sheik akkabar, or chief of the accumulated caravan, is generally a shereef or prince.