In these Thermae, or hot, sulphurous, and other mineral springs, is the phenomenon of the existence of fish and small snakes.  These were observed by our tourists, but I shall give three other authorities besides them.  Shaw says:  “‘The Ouri-el-Nout,’ i.e., ‘Well of Fish,’ and the springs of Ghasa and Toser, nourish a number of small fishes of the mullet and perch kind, and are of an easy digestion.  Of the like quality are the other waters of the Jereed, all of them, after they become cold, being the common drink of the inhabitants.”  Sir Grenville Temple remarks:  “The thermometer in the water marked ninety-five degrees; and, what is curious, a considerable number of fish is found in this stream, which measure from four to six inches in length, and resemble, in some degree, the gudgeon, having a delicate flavour.  Bruce mentions a similar fact, but he says he saw it in the springs of Feriana.  Part of the ancient structure of these baths still exists, and pieces of inscriptions are observed in different places.”

Mr. Honneger has made a sketch of this fish.  The wood-cut represents it one half the natural size: 

[Illustration]

The snake, not noticed by former tourists, has been observed by Mr. Honneger, which nourishes itself entirely upon the fish.  The wood-cut represents the snake half its natural size: 

[Illustration]

The fish and the snake live together, though not very amicably, in the hot-springs.  Prince Puekler Muskau, who travelled in Tunis, narrates that, “Near the ruins of Utica was a warm spring, in whose almost hot waters we found several turtles, which seemed to inhabit this basin.”

However, perhaps, there is no such extraordinary difficulty in the apprehension of this phenomenon, for “The Gulf Stream,” on leaving the Gulf of Mexico, “has a temperature of more than 27 deg. (centigrade), or 80-6/10 degrees of Fahrenheit.” [38]

Many a fish must pass through and live in this stream.  And after all, since water is the element of fish, and is hotter or colder in all regions, like the air, the element of man, which he breathes, warmer or cooler, according to clime and local circumstances—­there appear to be no physical objections in the way of giving implicit credence to our tourists.

Water is so abundant, that the adjoining plain might be easily irrigated, and planted with ten thousand palms and forests of olives.  God is bountiful in the Desert, but man wilfully neglects these aqueous riches springing up eternally to repair the ravages of the burning simoum!  In one of the groves we met a dervish, who immediately set about charming our Boab.  He began by an incantation, then seized him round the middle, and, stooping a little, lifted him on his shoulders, continuing the while the incantation.  He then put him on his feet again, and, after several attempts, appeared to succeed in bringing off his stomach something in the shape of leaden bullets, which he