that in some stony places it can be fired. The
birds appear to build their nests at various seasons.
Many that built three months ago are again at
work; among others is a species of black Mina,
that takes entire possession of a tree, which it
completely covers with nests coarsely constructed of
sticks. A few days ago I found several trees converted
into colonies of many hundred dwellings..
“ I never allow either the monkeys or baboons to
be disturbed : thus they have no fear of our party, but
with perfect confidence they approach within thirty
or forty yards of the tents, sitting upon the rocks and
trees, and curiously watching all that takes place in
the camp. I have only seen one species of monkey
in this neighbourhood—a handsome dark grey animal
with white whiskers. The baboons are also of one
species, the great dog-faced ape (Cynocephalus) ; these
grow to a very large size, and old Masara fully expects
to be carried off and become the wife of an old baboon,
if they are allowed to become so bold.
“ This afternoon I took a stroll with the rifle, but
saw nothing except a young crocodile about six feet
long; this was on the dry summit of a hill, far from
water. I shot it and took the skin. I can only conclude
that the small stream in which he had wandered
from the river bed had become dry, and the creature
had lost its way in searching for other water.
“ September 27.—I started from th e te n t a t 6
a . M. and m ad e a circu it o f abou t eig h teen m iles,
seein g n o th in g b u t te te l an d gazelles, b u t I h a d
no luck. Hot and disgusted I returned home, and
took the rod, hoping for better luck in the river.
I hooked, but lost, a small fish, and I began to
think that the fates were against me by land and
Avater, when I suddenly had a tremendous run, and
about one hundred and fifty yards rushed off the
reel without the possibility of stopping the fish.
The river was very low; thus I followed along the
bank, holding hard, and after about half an hour
of difference of opinion, the fish began to show
itself, and I coaxed it into the shallows; here it
was cleverly managed by Bacheet, who lugged it
out by the tail. It was an ugly monster, of about
fifty pounds, a species of silurus, known by the
Arabs as the ‘ coor j it differed from the spurns
of Europe by having a dorsal fin, like a fringe,
that extended along the back to the tail. This
fish had lungs resembling delicate branches of red
coral, and, if kept moist, it would exist upon the
land for many hours like an eel. It smelt strongly
of musk, but it was gladly accepted by the sheik
of Sofi, who immediately answered to the flag.
“ While shooting this morning I came suddenly
upon a small species of leopard, that had just
killed a snake about five feet in length; the head
was neatly bitten off and lay upon the ground
near the body; the animal was commencing a meal
off the snake when it was disturbed, and I lost
sight of it immediately in the high grass.
“ September %8.—The heat is most oppressive:
Q