first day of departure, to allow stragglers who may
have lagged behind in Gondokoro to rejoin tlie party
before morning.
We were rouglily challenged by their sentries as we
passed, and were instantly told “ not to remain in
their neighbourhood.” Accordingly we passed on for
about half a mile in advance, and bivouacked on some
rising ground above a slight hollow i O O <-> n which we found
water. All were busy collecting firewood and cutting
grass for the donkeys and horses who were piquetted
near the fires. The camels were hobbled, and turned
to graze upon the branches of a large mimosa. We
were not hungry; the constant anxiety had entirely
destroyed all appetite. A cup of strong black coffee
was the greatest luxury, and not requiring a tent in
the clear still night, we were soon asleep on our simple
angareps.
Before daylight on the following morning the ,drum
b e a t; the lazy soldiers, after stretching and yawning,
began to load the animals, and we started at six
o’clock. In these climates the rising of the sun is
always dreaded. For about an hour before sunrise
-the air is deliciously cool and invigorating, but the
sun is regarded as the common enemy. There is,
nevertheless, a difficulty in starting before sunrise
the animals cannot be properly loaded in the darkness,
and the operation being tedious, the cool hour of
morning is always lost.
The morning was clear, and the mountain of
Belignan, within three or four miles, was a fine
object to direct our .course. I could distinctly see
some enormous trees at the foot of the mountain near
a village, and I hastened forward, as' I hoped to
procure a guide who would also act as interpreter,
many of the natives in the vicinity of Gondokoro
having learnt a little Arabic from the traders. We
cantered on ahead of the party, regardless ■ of the
assurance of our unwilling men that the natives were
not to be trusted, and we soon arrived beneath the
shade of a cluster of most superb trees. The village
was within a quarter of a mile, situated at the very
base of the abrupt mountain; the natives seeing us
alone had no fear, and soon thronged around us. The
chief understood a few words of Arabic, and I offered
a large payment of copper bracelets and beads for
a guide. After much discussion and bargaining a
bad-looking fellow offered to guide us to Ellyria, but
no farther. This was about twenty-eight or thirty
miles distant, and it was of vital importance that we
should pass through that tribe before the trader’s
party should raise them against us. I had great
hopes of outmarching them, as they would be devoid
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