We started on the following afternoon, and, with
Hassan as our guide, and Taher Noor upon a camel,
my wife and I cantered ahead of the main body, over
a high ridge of stony, and accordingly firm ground.
Upon arrival at the summit, we had a lovely view of
the surrounding country, and we commenced a gentle
descent into a vast plain sparsely covered with small
trees. In the extensive prospect before us, the dark
green veins of foliage in the otherwise yellow surface
of withered grass marked out distinctly the course of
small rivulets. We hurried on, sometimes over
blackened ashes, where the fire had swept all before
it, at other times through withered grass, that had
been saved from destruction through the intervention
of some ravine. At 7.30 p.m. we arrived at an excels
lent halting place, by a beautiful but small stream
of water, shaded by a fringe of dome palms ; this was
by dead reckoning seventeen miles from our last camp.
It had been pleasant travelling, as the moon was full |
we had ridden fast, therefore it was useless to expect
the camels for some hours; we accordingly spread the
carpet on the ground, and lay down to sleep, with the
stocks of the rifles for pillows, as we had frequently
done on former occasions.
On the following morning I sent a couple of men
on camels to reconnoitre the country in advance,
towards Guddabi, and to return with the report of the
supply of water. This country abounded with large
game, especially with the beautiful antelope already
described, the maarif; they were as usual extremely
wild, but I succeeded in breaking the hip of a fine
bull at a long range; and, separating him from the
herd, I ran the wounded antelope until I was thoroughly
exhausted in the intense heat of the sun, but I lost it
in the thick bush not far from our camp. That night
we heard a lion roaring close to us, and upon searching
at daybreak I found the remains of a maarif, which I
imagine must have been my wounded bull.
I mounted my horse Tetel, and, with Taher Noor and
two of my Tokrooris, Hadji Ali and Hassan, I rode
towards a pyramidical hill about three miles distant,
which I intended to ascend in order to obtain a panoramic
view of the .country. This hill was about three
hundred feet high, and, as the fire had swept away a
portion of the grass for several miles around, I should
obtain a clear view of all living animals that might
be in the neighbourhood. Upon arrival at the base of
the hill I dismounted, and led my horse up the steep
inclination of broken basalt that had fallen from the
summit. From the top of the peak I had a superb
panorama of the country, the mountain Nahoot Gub-
dabi bearing S.W. about thirty miles distant. I had
a complete bird’s-eye view of great extent, and I immediately
distinguished, in various positions, giraffes,
buffaloes, tetel, and boars. At this season the trees
were leafless, thus any animal upon the low ground
would be at once discovered from this elevated point.
I extract from my journal the account of this day’s
hunt, as it was written immediately upon my return
to camp.