And it may be a fitting finish to give Ali’s description of the desert that we had left behind.
“Gentle people, I salute you! I give you news of the desert. It is a land of sand and wind and want. If you would visit it? tighten your belt plenty, as a giant. There is no lying down in comfort, for there is no medicine for the Sun by day, nor for the Great Winds by night. There is never plenty food, and if water is not found, then one dies—that is the desert!
“All my people ’fraid of that Sahara country, and plenty plenty people say we no fit go, because robber people, no food, no water, no sticks for fire, and all that.
“Only strong man fit go walka that country, and some strong men begin to die after we go start.
“Plenty people tell master he go die, but master only say: ‘All right, he go all same.’
“After I go look them desert, I think I no go live to see England. But Allah is kind! and I have looked on this country, which be plenty plenty fine—and I go my way in content.”
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE OF SAHARAN BIRD LIFE