had formed a kind of arbour by hacking out with
a sabre a delightful shady nook in the midst of a
dense mass of creepers, and there we feasted upon
a couple of roast fowls that we had procured from
the natives for glass beads. This was the . first meat
we had tasted since we had quitted Gondokoro.
. At 5.10 p .m . we left this delightful spot, and
marched. Emerging from the forest we broke upon
a beautiful plain of fine low grass, bounded on our
right hand by jungle. This being the cool hour of
evening the plain was alive with game, including
buffaloes, zebras, and many varieties of large antelopes.
I t was a most enlivening sight to see them scouring
over the plain as we advanced; but our large party,
and three red flags streaming in the breeze, effectually
prevented us from getting sufficiently near for a shot.
I was sorely tempted to remain in this Elysium for a
few days’ shooting, but the importance of an advance
was too great to permit of any thoughts of amusement;
thus, I could only indulge a sportsman’s feelings by
feasting my eyes upon the beautiful herds before me.
At a quarter-past seven we bivouacked in thick
jungle. In the middle of the night, the watch-fires
still blazing, I was awoke by a great noise, and upon
arrival at the spot I found a number of the Turks with
firebrands, searching upon the ground, which was
literally strewed with beads and copper bracelets. The
Latooka porters had broken open the bags and baskets
containing many hundred-weight of these objects, and
loading themselves, had intended to desert with their
stolen prize", but the sentries having discovered them,
they were seized by the soldiers. These fellows, the
Latookas, had exhibited the folly of monkeys in so
rashly breaking open the packages while the sentries
were on guard. Several who had been caught in
the act were now pinioned by the Turks, and were immediately
condemned to be shot; while others were
held down upon the ground and well chastised with
the coorbatch. I begged that the punishment of
death might be commuted for a good flogging;—at
first I implored in vain, until I suggested, that if the
porters were shot, there would be no one to carry their
loads this practical argument saved them, and after
receiving a severe thrashing, their arms were pinioned,
and a guard set over them until the morning.
We marched at 5.25 - on the following morning.
Eor several hours the path led through thick jungle in
which we occasionally caught glimpses of antelopes.
At length quitting the jungle we arrived at an open
marshy plain, upon which I discerned at a great
distance a number of antelopes. Having nothing to
:cat I determined to stalk them, as I heard from the