knees in like manner; when this operation was concluded,
the skin became an immense sack, the mouth
being at the aperture left at the hind-quarters. The
No. 10 bullet had gone completely through the
shoulders of the tetel, thus the two holes in the hide
required stopping; this was dexterously performed
by inserting a stone into either hole, of a size so
much larger than the aperture, that it was impossible
to squeeze them through. These stones were inserted
from the inside of the sack; they were then grasped
by the hand from the outside, and pulled forward,
while a tight ligature was made behind each stone,
which effectually stopped the holes. The skin of
the tetel was thus converted into a waterproof bag,
into which was paeked a quantity of flesh sufficient
to fill two-thirds of its capacity; the edges of the
mouth were then carefully drawn together, and
secured by tying. Thus carefully packed, one of the
foreleg ligatures was untied, and the whole skin was
inflated by blowing through the tube formed by
the «kin of the limb; the inflation completed, this
was suddenly twisted round and tied. The skin
thus filled looked like an exaggerated water-skin;
the power of flotation was so great, that about a
dozen men hung on to the legs of the tetel, and to
each other’s shoulders, when we launched it in the
river. This plan is well worthy of the attention of
military men; troops, when on service, are seldom
without bullocks; in the absence of boats or rafts
not only can the men be thus safely conveyed across
the river, but the ammunition can be packed within
the skins, wrapped up in straw, and will be kept
perfectly dry.
“ The Arabs were much afraid of crocodiles this
night, as it was perfectly dark when we had completed
our preparations, and they feared that the
smell of so large a quantity of raw flesh, more
especially the hide of the giraffe, which must be
towed, would attract these beasts to the party;
accordingly I fired several shots to alarm them,
and the men plunged into the river amidst the
usual yelling of the women on the opposite side.
Fires had been lighted to direct us, and all passed
safely across.
- “ The sport upon the Abyssinian side of the river
had been most satisfactory, and I resolved upon
the first opportunity to change my quarters, and to
form an encampment upon that bank of the Atbara
until the proper season should arrive for travelling.
I had killed three giraffes and two tetel in only
two excursions. Florian, who was ill, had not
been able to accompany m e; although he had
been shooting in this neighbourhood for two years
he had never killed a giraffe. This want of success
was owing to the inferiority of his weapons, that
were not adapted to correct shooting at a range
exceeding a hundred yards.
“ On the following morning about fifty .Arabs
crossed the river with the intention of bringing
the flesh of the giraffe, but they returned crest