animal, and that of the most elastic nature, that
could twist and turn with the suppleness of a, snake;
the fact of their being separate beings was proved
by the rider springing to the earth with his drawn
sword while the horse was in full gallop over rough
and difficult ground, and clutching the mane, he
again vaulted into the saddle with the agility of a
monkey, without once checking the speed. The fact
of being on horseback had suddenly altered the
character of these Arabs; from a sedate and proud
bearing, they had become the wildest examples of
the most savage disciples of. Nimrod; excited by
enthusiasm, they shook their naked blades aloft till
the steel trembled in their grasp, and awTay they
dashed over rocks, through thorny bush, across
ravines, up and down steep inclinations, engaging
in a mimic hunt, and going through the various
acts supposed to occur in the attack of a furious
elephant. I must acknowledge that, in spite of
my admiration for their wonderful dexterity, I began
to doubt their prudence. I had three excellent
horses for my wife and myself; the Hamran hunters
had only one for each; and, if the Commencement
were an example of their usual style of horsemanship,
I felt sure that a dozen horses would not be
sufficient for the work before us. However, it was
not the moment to offer advice, as they were
simply mad with excitement and delight.
The women raised their loud and shrill yell at
parting, and our party of about twenty-five persons,
with nine camels, six horses, and two donkeys, exclusive
of the German . Florian, with his kicking
giraffe-himter, and attendants, ascended the broken
slope that formed the broad valley of the Settite
river.
There was very little game in the neighbourhood,
as it was completely overrun by the Arabs and
their flocks ; and we were to march about fifty
miles E.S.E. before we should arrive in the happy
hunting-grounds of the Basé country, where we
were led to expect great results. Previous to leaving
Wat el Négur I had thoroughly drilled my Tokrooris
in their duties as gun-bearers, which had established
a discipline well exemplified in the recent affair
with the elephants. I had entrusted to them my
favourite rifles, and had instructed them in their
use ; each man paid particular regard to the rifle
that he carried, and,. as several were of the same
pattern, they had marked them with small pieces
of rag tied round the triggèr guards. This esprit
de corps was most beneficial to the preservation
of the arms, which were kept in admirable order.
Mahomet, the dragoman, rode my spare horse, and
carried my short double-barrelled rifle, slung across
his back, in the place of his pistols and gun, which
he had wilfully thrown upon the desert when leaving
Berber. As the horse was restive, and he had placed
the hammers upon the caps, his shirt caught in
the lock, and one barrel suddenly exploded, which,
with an elephant-chàrge of six drachms of powder,