And kept low shrubs from winter’s powerful wind.
‘Henry VI.’ Part III. act v. scene 2.
This was the last night we spent actually in the Aures Mountains. We now entered the plains which skirt their northern base.
FOOTNOTES:
[84]Æn. Lib. iv. 246-251 (Dryden).
CHAPTER XII.
AIN KHENCHLA — ACROSS THE PLAINS OF THE NEMEMCHA TO TEBESSA.
From Ain Meimoun to Ain Khenchla is 17½ miles, which occupied us five hours. We carefully avoided the carriage road, and took the more enjoyable one through the forests with which the hills are covered. Here and there we came to an open space generally full of Roman remains, but we saw none of especial interest.
About half way is an elevated plateau, called El-Kaläa, or El-Geläa as it is more frequently pronounced, the fortress, from which there is a most commanding view of the extensive plain below, and the distant hills, as far as Constantine. In the foreground is one of the Sebkhas, bordered by a crystalline belt of salt and sand, contrasting strongly with the brilliant vegetation around.