were so heart-broken at the idea of losing1 their
animal, that they had lost all confidence in themselves.
We lowered down Taher Noor by a rope
to the bush, and after some difficulty, he unfastened
the load of flesh, which he threw piece by piece to
a platform of rock below, about ten feet square,
which formed a shelf a few inches above the level
of the water. The camel being relieved of both
the load and its saddle, I ordered the Arabs to
fasten together all their ropes ; these, being made of
twisted antelope’s hide, were immensely strong,
and as I had established a rule, that several extra
bundles should invariably accompany the water-
camel, we had a large supply. The. camel was now
secured by a rope passed round the body beneath
the forelegs, and the cloths of the Arabs were
wrapped around the cord to prevent it from cutting
the skin. This being arranged, I took a double turn
of the rope round a tree, as thick as a man’s thigh,
that grew in a cleft of the rock where we stood,
and throwing the honey axe to Taher Noor, I told
him to cut away the bushes that supported the
camel, and I would lower it gently down to the
shelf by the water’s edge. In a few minutes the
bushes were cut away, and the camel, roaring with
fright, swung in mid-air. Taher Noor held on to
the rope, while I slacked off the line from the tree,
and lowered both man and beast safely to the shelf,
about seventy-feet below. The camel was unhurt,
and the Arabs were delighted; two other men now
descended. We threw them down a quantity of
dry wood to make a fire, and, as they were well
off for meat, we left them prisoners upon the ledge
of rock with the profoundly deep river before them,
walled in by abrupt precipices upon either side* It
was nearly dark, and, having to find my way to
the camp among dangerous ravines, I rode fast
ahead of my men to discover a ford, and to reach
home before complete darkness should increase the
danger. Tetel was as sure-footed and as nimble as
a cat, but we very nearly ended our days together,
as the bank of a precipice gave way while we were
skirting the edge. I felt it sinking, but the horse
sprang forward and saved himself, as I heard the
mass fall beneath.
That night we received a very audacious visit.
I was asleep in my tent, when I was suddenly
awakened by a slight pull at my sleeve, which was
the signal always given by my wife if anything
was wrong; on such occasions, I never replied until
I had gently grasped my little Fletcher, which always
slept with me beneath my mat. She now whispered
that a hyaena had been within the tent, but, that it
had just bolted out, as these animals are so wary
that they detect the slightest movement or noise.
As a rule, I never shot at hyaenas, but, as I feared
it might eat our saddles, I laid in bed with the rifle
to my shoulder, pointed towards the tent door
* On the following morning, the camel was safely floated across
the river, supported hy the inflated skins of the mehedehets.