Slaves, in coming from the water, are not allowed to drink until they reach the tree, which is one of the longest stages from Fezzan.

At the end of nearly eleven hours, the route led through a pass called Hormut Taad Abar, and after wading through a _wady_, closely hemmed in by mountains, opened into a small circular plain, in which was found a well of brackish, stinking water.

In hot seasons, the well is dry, and even at this time it was very low; but the horses sucked up with avidity the mud that was thrown out of it.

Still there was not any fodder for the camels, till, about the middle of the next day's march, they reached a small wady, in which there were some low bushes.

A strong sand-wind from the southward now rendered the march extremely harassing.