When he had rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, and seemed to realize the situation, he looked ahead of him into the expanse of desert and solemnly declared that we were lost. He said he did not in the least know where we were, and that it was the “sokrar’s” fault for not keeping the direction he had given him. We soon came to the conclusion that he was speaking the truth with regard to not knowing where we were, and as to the reason how this had happened it appeared to be immaterial. It is a strange thing how philosophical one becomes in the desert, and the position, which was really sufficiently serious to cause anxiety, did not disturb our equanimity as much as it should have done.
The Residency at Touggourt
The official who resides here is a military officer, and administers a large portion of the Sahara, south of Algeria, called the “Annexe of Touggourt.” This oasis boasts of a small hotel and is visited by some of the more enterprising tourists from Biskra occasionally. The distance to Biskra is only 125 miles, which can be covered in two days by the desert coach running between the two places.
Chaamba Arabs at Touggourt
A desert caravan has just arrived; the camels have been unloaded and are going to water. The bags in the foreground are the familiar “tellis” of the Northern Sahara. They are made of camel’s hair, are very strong, and are used to carry dates.
The only thing to do was to strike in the direction in which we knew the “Oued Mya” must lie, and then follow its course up towards the well which lay in its bed. As the “oued” wound about considerably this would lengthen our march a good deal, but this seemed a more prudent course than to make blind “casts” in the desert.
As matters turned out, the “Méhariste” again came to the rescue when day dawned. He rode out at a trot some distance in advance of the caravan, to scout, and, after an hour or so, he returned with the information that he could find the well, without the need for further lengthening our march. He acted up to his promise, and we thus did not go more than some ten miles out of our way. After this our journey was accomplished without further incident to Ouargla, where we arrived on June 29th.
The day before our arrival we passed a small oasis, in which there lived an influential Arab chief. This man invited me to have breakfast with him. Knowing that he would be hurt if I refused, and also that it would be considered, by the custom of the country, that I wished to insult him if I did not accept his hospitality, I agreed to come.