ornamentation on the chest, had been broken off. The
measurements were—
Shoulder to p l i n t h , ................................................ 60 inches.
Centre of chest to tail, . . . . 115 „
Greatest circumference of neck, . . 122 ,,
Over the saddle part, from p lin th to plinth, 140 „
Over the rump, do. do. . 145 ,,
Length of th e t a i l , .....................................................60 „
Although there were other ruins about Soba, we were
informed that the above were the only remains worthy
of note; so we re-embarked at noon, and returned to
Khartoom.
Preparations were making for our departure by
boat to Berber, and thence by desert upon camels to
Korosko. It was necessary, on account of the poverty
of Berber, to lay in supplies of food at Khartoom for
both these journeys. Ali Bey procured us a small
diabeah which belonged to Government. We had
only to pay the hire of the crew to Berber, namely,
twenty-eight dollars. We had twenty Seedees, and
each required to have two goat-skins, or “ girba,”
to carry his drinking-water; Speke and I had two
“ rey,” or cow-skins, each, for the same purpose, and
water-bottles to hang from our camel-saddles. All
these were purchased, the small ones for seven, and
the large for thirty-eight koorsh each. It was necessary
to grease and test these skins before setting out
on the journey. A number of lads, each with the
skin of a goat, blew into them with all their might,
and then tied up the inflated skins for our inspection.
Having arranged everything, we intended sailing at
noon of the 15th April; but the hospitality, of the
Baroness, the Austrian missionaries, M. de Bono, and
other gentlemen of Khartoom, delayed our departure
till the afternoon, when about a dozen of our kind
friends came to bid us farewell. The advices we
received as to crossing the desert were numerous, and
I may here mention them for the benefit of future
travellers:—Have a list of the stages by land and
water, mentioning what supplies are procurable.
Always sling a water-bag and bag of biscuit to the
pommel of your saddle. Ali Bey recommended a
thimbleful of rum in a good deal of water as the best
thing to keep one awake, and prevent tumbling off
the camel during night. Always take a sleep for a
few hours from nine in the morning. Water is more
requisite than food; next to this, abrey (or dry unleavened
bread) and hard biscuit are the best. See that
your men do not steal your wajfcer, or the sailors your
ropes. The camels, too, are apt, from thirst, to bite
through the water-bags, which must be taken care of,
and also, covered during the night, to prevent the
wind drying them u p ; and always have something
under them. We found all these advices excellent;
and I have nothing to add except that a “ Hadjeen,”
or riding camel, is indispensable to comfort.