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I approved of anything that had not my name attached to it. 22nd, 23rd. Left in the afternoon, and continued all night, till two hours before day-break. Rose at sun-rise and continued till nearly noon. Halted for the Kailah, and afterwards resumed our journey, continuing all night. The people of the ghafalah amused themselves in the night, by "playing at powder."
We passed the kailah, or in Scripture phrase, "the heat of the day," at a place called Aâeeat, below The Mountains, where we found two wells without water, or with very little bad, dirty, nay, black water. Nevertheless, many descended these wells, about thirty feet deep, to bring up the muddy filthy water, and swallowed it immediately. I myself was so thirsty, that I drank it greedily.
Encamped during the Kailah قايلة, or from 10 o'clock A.M., to 3 P.M. This is the siesta of the Spaniards, and it is probable the Moors introduced it into Spain. It is also the mezzogiorno of the Italians and the Frank population of Barbary. But the Italians usually dine before they take their midday nap. Our object here is to shelter ourselves from the greatest force of the heat of the day.
In his absence the torment of thirst prostrated me, and I lay senseless on the ground: "The water! the water! My heart yet burns to think, How cool thy fountain sparkled forth, For parched lips to drink." After the Kailah, we ascended that portion of the Tripoline chain of the Atlas called Yefran.
Zouweeah. The Sahara. Beer-el-Hamra. Squabbling at the Wells. The strength of Caravan, and character of Escort. Shouwabeeah. Difficulty of keeping the Caravan together. Camels cropping herbage en route. The Kailah or Siesta. Arab Troops seize the Water of the Merchants. Wady Lethel. Irregular March of the Caravan. Aâeeat. Descent into Wells. Learn the value of Water.
Passed the kailah under a group of olive trees, called "The Sisters ," where also flocks of sheep and shepherds were dosing and reposing under the shade. We exchanged biscuits for milk. I had my revenge, for when I had drank my milk, I took good care to give them only a fair and exact return of biscuits, which made them ask for more, but which I refused.
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