The natives of Tegerhy are quite black, but have not the negro face; the men are slim, very plain, with high cheek bones, the negro nose, large mouth, teeth much stained by the quantity of tobacco, and trona or carbonate of soda, which they eat, and even snuff, when given to them, goes directly into their mouths.

The young girls are most of them pretty, but less so than those of Gabrone.  The men always carry two daggers, one about eighteen inches, and the other six inches; the latter of which is attached to a ring, and worn on the arm or wrist.  A Tibboo once told Major Denham, pointing to the long one, “This is my gun, and this” showing the smaller of the two, “is my pistol.”

On the 13th they left Tegerhy and proceeded on the desert.  After travelling six miles they arrived at a well called Omah, where their tents were pitched, and here they halted three days.  Near these wells, numbers of human skeletons, or parts of them, lay scattered on the sands.  Hillman, who had suffered dreadfully since leaving Tegerhy, was greatly shocked at these whitened skulls, and unhallowed remains, so much so as to stand in need of all the encouragement which Major Denham could administer to him.

On the 17th they continued their course over a stony plain, without the least appearance of vegetation.  About sunset, they halted near a well, within half a mile of Meshroo.  Round this spot were lying more than a hundred skeletons, some of them with the skin still remaining attached to the bones, not even a little sand thrown over them.  The Arabs laughed heartily at the expression which Major Denham evinced, and said, “they were only blacks, nam boo! (d—­n their fathers,)” and began knocking about the limbs with the butt end of their firelocks, saying, “this was a woman:  this was a youngster,” and such like unfeeling expressions.  The greater part of the unhappy people, of whom these were the remains, had formed the spoils of the sultan of Fezzan the year before.  Major Denham was assured, that they had left Bornou, with not above a quarter’s allowance for each; and that more died from want than fatigue; they were marched off with chains round their necks and legs; the most robust only arrived in Fezzan in a very debilitated state, and were there fattened for the Tripoli slave market.

Their camels did not come up until it was quite dark, and they bivouacked in the midst of these unearthed remains of the victims of persecution and avarice, after a long day’s journey of twenty-six miles, in the course of which, one of the party counted one hundred and seven of these skeletons.

Their road now lay over a long plain with a slight ridge.  A fine naga (she camel), lay down on the road, as it was supposed from fatigue.  The Arabs crowded round and commenced unloading her, when, upon inquiry, it was found that she was suddenly taken in labour; about five minutes completed the operation; a very fine little animal was literally dragged into light.  It was then thrown across another camel, and the mother, after being reloaded, followed quietly after her offspring.