Chap. VI.] OASES OF THE CLACKS. 359

an Arab in search of a stray camel, and from the
footsteps of men and sheep he there met with, they
conclude it is inhabited. Gerbabo, another Wah,
lies six days beyond this to the west, and twelve
days from Augila; and Tazerbo, which is still far-
ther to the west, forms part of the same Oasis ;
and they suppose that Wadee Zerzoora also com-
municates with it. The inhabitants are blacks,*
and many of them have been carried off at different
times by the Moghrebins for slaves: though the
" Vallies of the Blacks," a series of similar Oases,
lie still farther to the west.f

Four more days to the south of Farafreh is the
Wah el Gharbee, or Wah e' Dakhleh (the western
or inner Oasis). Till noticed by Arab writers, £ its
position, and even existence, were unknown; though
a temple of Roman date, and several remains of
crude brick prove it to have been once a very popu-
lous district. The temple has the names of Nero
and Titus, and on the ceiling of the adytum is part
of an astronomical subject.

* It is supposed that the blacks, who invaded Farafreh some
years ago, and kidnapped a great number of the inhabitants, were
from this Oasis.

t By another account Zerzoora is only two or three days due
west from Dakhleh, beyond which is another wadee: then a
second abounding in cattle: then Gebabo and Tazerbo; and
beyond these is Wadee Rebeeana. Gebabo is inhabited by two
tribes of blacks, the Simertayn and Ergezayn.

% It was unknown to Europeans till visited by Sir A. Edmon
stone, in 1819.