Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/535

 retreat in the direction of Wargla, 480 miles distant in a straight line, and 720 following the chain of wells. All the French members of the expedition perished in this disastrous retreat, and thirteen men only reached Wargla, after a fearful march of over two months, during which they had at times nothing to drink but blood, and nothing to eat except human flesh. Nevertheless the fact that the fugitives were able to fight some successful engagements along the route, and gain many stations before being overwhelmed, is a sufficient proof of the possibility of conducting an expedition successfully across the Tuareg territory. A caravan

properly supplied with provisions, and keeping carefully on its guard, might certainly traverse the country from end to end. Those whom circumstances had turned into traitors and marauders would remain faithful in the presence of superior forces.

The plateau in which is gradually merged the Janet mountain range, is known by the name of Tassili, a Berber word accurately indicating the aspect of the land. This Tassili, qualified as "Northern," or "of the Azjars," to distinguish it from other plateaux lying to the south of Ahaggar, consists of extremely rugged uplands, whose main axis runs in the direction from south-east to north-west, along