Note 35 — GHÁNAH — Aúdaghost — Aúlíl.

The account of Major Laing’s journey to Tomboktú (Quarterly Review, July 1828, p. 103-5), after stating that he was attacked by the Tawárik, makes frequent mention of Azoad, whence, on recovering from his wounds, he wrote his last letter. Caillié mentions “the tribe of Zaouât, who wander in the desert of the same name” (Voyage à Temboctou, tom. II. p. 349). It was the Sheikh of this tribe, Hamet aúlád Habíb, who put Major Laing to death, meeting him five days north of Tomboktú, on the road to Arawan. The name of this murderer brings to mind the fact that the chief wells on the roads to Aúdaghost and Ghánah were dug by a Sheikh of the Aúlád Habíb. It is plain that the tribe called Zaouât by Caillié, were so named from their country; and it is probable that he, or the editor of his volumes, deprived the name Azawad of its initial letter, in the belief that it was thereby freed from the Arabic article. The desert of Azawad is described by Lyon (Trav. in N. Afr. p. 148) under the name of ʿAsheríyah, or the ten days’ desert.