consideration should be bestowed upon saddles and
packs. The facility of loading is all important, and I
now had an exemplification of its effect upon both
animals and men ; the latter began to abuse the camels
and to curse the father of this, and the mother of that,
because they had the trouble of unloading them for
the descent into the river’s bed, while the donkeys
were blessed with the endearing name of “ my brother,”
and alternately whacked with the stick. It was rather
a bad commencement of a forced march, and the ravine
we had crossed had been a cause of serious delay.
Hardly were the animals re-loaded and again ready for
the march, when the men remembered that they had
only one water skin full. I had given orders before
the start from Belignan that all should be filled. This
is the unexceptional rule in African travelling “ fill
your girbas before .starting.” Never mind what the
natives may tell you concerning the existence of
water on the road; believe nothing; but resolutely
determine to fill the girbas;—should you find
water, there is no harm done if you are already
provided: but nothing can exceed the improvidence
of the people. To avoid the trouble of filling the
girbas before starting, the men will content themselves
with “ Inshallah ” (please God) we shad find
water on the road, and they frequently endure the
greatest suffering from sheer idleness in neglecting
a supply.
They had in this instance persuaded themselves that
the river we had just crossed would not be dry.
Several of them had been employed in this country
formerly, and because they had at one time found
water in the sandy bed, they had concluded that it
existed still. Accordingly they now wished to send
parties to seek for water; this would entail a further
delay, at a time when every minute was precious, as
our fate depended upon reaching and passing through
Ellyria before the arrival of the Turks. I was very
anxious, and determined not to allow a moment s hesitation
; I therefore insisted upon an immediate advance,
and resolved to march without stopping throughout
the night. The Latooka guides explained by signs
that if we marched all night we should arrive at water
on the following morning. This satisfied the m en ;
and we started. For some miles we passed through
a magnificent forest of large trees : the path being
remarkably good, the march looked propitious—this
good fortune however was doomed to change. We
shortly entered upon thick thorny jungles; the path was
so overgrown that the camels could scarcely pass under
the overhanging branches, and the leather bags of provisions
piled upon their backs were soon ripped by the