part was serious to the march—every time that they
lay down they shifted their loads; some of the most
wilful persisted in rolling, and of course upset their
packs. There were only seventeen men, and these
were engaged in assisting the camels; thus the twenty-
one donkeys had it all their own way; and what added
to the confusion was the sudden cry of hyenas in close
proximity, which so frightened the donkeys that they
immediately sprang to their feet, with their packs
lying discomfited, entangled among their legs. Thus,
no sooner were the camels re-loaded on the other side
of the ravine, than all the donkeys had to undergo the
same operation ;—during which time the camels, however
stupid, having observed the donkeys’ “ dodge,”
took the opportunity of lying down also, and necessarily
shifted their loads. The women were therefore
ordered to hold the camels, to prevent them from lying
down while the donkeys were being re-loaded; but
the women were dead tired, as they had been carrying
loads; they themselves laid down, and it being dark,
they were not observed until a tremendous scream was
heard, and we found that a camel had lain down on
the t o p o f A w o m a n who had been placed to watch it,
but who had herself fallen asleep. The camel was with
difficulty raised, and the woman dragged from beneath.
Everything was tired out. I had been working like a
slave to assist, and to cheer the men ; I was also
fatigued. We had marched from 4.30 p .m .—it was
now" I A.M. ; we had thus been eight hours and a half
struggling along the path, The moon had sunk, and
the complete darkness rendered a further advance impossible
; I therefore, on arrival at a large plateau of
rock, ordered the animals to be unloaded, and both man
and beast to rest. The people had no water ; I had a
girba full for Mrs. Baker and myself, 'which was
always slung on my saddle ; this precaution I never
neglected.
The men were hungry. Before leaving Gondokoro
I had ordered a large quantity of kisras (black pancakes)
to be prepared for the march, and they were
packed in a basket that had been carried on a camel ;
unfortunately Mrs. Baker’s pet monkey had been placed
upon the same camel, and he had amused himself
during the night’s march by feasting and filling his
cheeks- with the kisras,. and throwing the remainder
atvay when his hunger was satisfied. There literally
was not a kisra remaining in the basket.
Every one lay down supperless to sleep. Although
tired, I could not rest until I had arranged some plan
for the morrow. I t was • evident that we could not
travel over so rough a country with the animals thus
overloaded ; I therefore determined to leave. in the