point, some distance above tbe junction, we continued
along tbe margin of the stream for about two miles
until we reached the Settite. The Hor (a ravine)
Mehetape was the limit of my exploration; it was
merely a rapid mountain torrent, the individual
effect of which would be trifling; but we were now
among the mountains whose drainage caused the
sudden rise of the Atbara river and the Nile. Far as
the eye could reach to the south and east, the range
extended in a confused mass of peaks of great altitude,
from the sharp granite head of one thousand, to flat
topped basalt hills of five or six thousand feet, and
other conical points far exceeding, and perhaps double,
that altitude.
The Settite was very beautiful in this spot, as it
emerged from the gorge between the mountains, and
it lay in a rough stony valley about two hundred feet
below our path as we ascended from the junction of
the Hor, to better riding ground. In many places,
our route lay. over broken stones, which sloped at an
inclination of about thirty degrees throughout the.
entire distance to the river below ; these were formed
of decomposed basalt rocks that had apparently been
washed from decaying hills by the torrents of the rainy
season. At other parts of the route, we crossed above
similar debris of basalt that lay at an angle of about
sixty degrees, from a height of perhaps two hundred
feet to the waters edge, and reminded me of the
rubbish shot from the side of a mountain when boring
a tunnel. The whole of the basalt in this portion of
the country was a dark slate colour ; in some places
it was almost black ; upon breaking a great number
of pieces I found small crystals of olivine. Much
of the granite was a deep red, but the exterior coating
was m all cases decomposed, and crumbled at a blow ;
exhibiting a marked contrast to the hard-faced granite
blocks in the rainless climate of Lower Egypt. We
saw but little game during the march—a few nellut
and tétel, and the smaller antelopes, but no larger
animals.
We returned to camp late in the evening, and I
found the howartis had secured the crocodile of
yesterday, but the whole party was anxious to return
to the camp at Delladifla, as unpleasant reports were
brought into camp by our spies, who had seen parties
of the Basé in several directions.
D D