of the sun, he' would -willingly ride for ever. The
difference of action and of comfort to the rider between
a common camel and a high class hygeen, is equal to
.that between a thoroughbred and a heavy dray horse.
However, with all the good qualities of a “ Bisha-
reen,” my best camel was dead. This was a sad loss.
So long as my animals were well I felt independent,
and the death of this camel was equal to minus five
cwt. of luggage. My men were so idle that they paid
no attention to the animals, and the watcher who had
been .appointed to look after the four camels had
amused himself by going to the Latooka dance. Thus
was the loss of my best animal occasioned. ’
So well had all my saddles and pads, been arranged
at Khartoum, that although we had marched seven
days with exceedingly heavy loads, not one of ■ the
animals had a sore back.- The donkeys were exceedingly
fresh, but they had acquired a most-disgusting
habit. The Latookas are remarkably clean in their
towns, and nothing unclean is permitted within the
•stockade or fence. Thus the outside, especially the
neighbourhood of the various entrances, was excessively
filthy, and my donkeys actually fattened as scavengers,
like pigs. I remembered that my unfortunate German
Johann Schmidt had formerly told me that he was at
one time shooting in the Base country, where the
grass had been burnt, and not a blade of vegetation
was procurable. He had abundance of sport, and he
fed his donkey upon the flesh of antelopes, which he
ate with avidity, and throve exceedingly. I t is a
curious fact that donkeys should under certain circumstances
become omnivorous, while horses remain clean
feeders.