Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/145

 THE TUNISIAN 8EBKIIAS. 117 the level of the sebkhu. In the middle of this flat space is an ancient well, now filled up, which has procured for the islet the further title of IJir-en-Xsof, or ** the Central Wells." Numerous springs rise in the hard tracts of land found in many parts of the sebkha, but the water they yield is as brackish as that of the fountains in the surrounding oases. Four islets lying near the si)uthern bank of the Shott Faraun, are collectively termed Nkhal Faraun, or " Pharaoh's Palms," thanks to a legendary rejjort of the passage of an Egyptian army through this lacustrine basin, which the local traditions confound more or less with the Red Sea. The palms found on these four islets are said to have been planted by Pharaoh himself, in place of the olive-trees which previously covered the now inundated plain. These palms belong to none of the varieties known in the Jerid, and the dates they yield never attain a complete state of maturity. The great Tunisian sebkha is crossed by numerous caravan routes, which connect the oases on both sides of the basin. Tissot enumerates nine of these routes, but there are others not so well known, more especially in the eastern portion of the basin, which is hence called Shott-el-Fejej, or " the Routes," on account of the roads which traverse it. Some of these tracks are perfectly free from danger, whilst others must be crossed with the utmost caution, owing to the fissures, in which the wayfarer might suddenly disappear. On commencing the transit, the guide always admonishes the travellers to follow carefully in his footsteps, so as to avoid this danger. The sebkha of Tunis is much more inclined than the Runn of British India, presenting a slope of from 30 to 36 feet from east to west, whilst it is also much more perilous to traverse. A cloud of dust, or a mirage which hides or distorts the landmarks, a mistake on the part of the guide, or a stampede of the pack animals, might hurl the caravan into the midst of certain death. By certain traditional agreements amongst the trilx^s, the course to be followed should be indicated by stones on one side and trunks of palm-trees on the other, a space of a few hundred yards intervening between these landmarks. This arrangement, however, is not observed with sufficient attention ; most of the (jmairs, or guiding marks, are no longer in their proper place, or else have been replaced by the remains of camels. The sides of the road connecting the oasis of Kriz with those of the southern promontory, are bordered by abysses filled with a greenish-coloured water, " more bitter than that of the ocean," and of such a vast depth that the bottom has never been reached by the sounding lines. According to the ancient Arab stories and traditions, the earth has often given way under the weight of the caravans, and the men and animals composing it have been swallowed up by these abysses, whoso mouth has immediately closed over the heads of its victims. South of the lake, in the neighbouring region of Nefzawa, in which numerous hot springs take their source, there is another natural well of unknown depth, which is called by the Berber name of Tawerga, and of which the tribes in the vicinity say, that it demands an annual sacrifice of a human being. According to a local tradition, several centuries ago the site of this abyss was displaced by a violent earthquake. North-west of the great Tunisian sebkha, the cliffs of the "Lips" are continued