for it, straining my eyes in all directions, but to no purpose: I succeeded, however, in galloping back to the spot where I had last seen the tracks, and fired my gun, but nothing replied to me, or broke on the awiul stillness around. My situation now became very alarming, and my spirits began to sink, when I viewed the fearful prospect before me, which, if I failed to regain the Kaffie, threatened me with the horrors of a fingering and painful death. I examined my saddle-bags, and found that they contained not a single article of provision; my powder-horn had unfortunately been left on my camel; my note-book, however, was luckily in my possession, and on looking over it, I found, what was of some importance to me, that I had marked all the back bearings. I knew, that whether I advanced or retraced my steps, I should equally be two days distant from a well, and was aware that, even in reaching one, I might not have power to get at the water; my horse, at any rate, was not likely to survive two days’ privation of it. In this extremity, and not knowing what direction to take, I found my only resource to preserve fife, supposing I obtained water, would be to kill my poor animal, and to subsist on his flesh, with the hope of being, in the meantime, relieved by some passing traveller: but this chance was very remote, the road we were pursuing being but little frequented; and as to any other means of extricating myself, I could devise none. After some time passed in reflecting on what might probably be my melancholy fate if left on the desert, a sudden impulse induced me to trust to the guidance of my horse, and, giving him the reins, I allowed him to take .what course he chose, little imagining how nearly I approached the end of my difficulties. Whilst proceeding on my way, almost hopeless of extricating myself, and in a direction quite contrary to that which I had fancied to be the right one, I unexpectedly perceived that I had crossed the track, and was actually in a Wadey full of talhh trees, bearing evident marks of having heen recently passed over by our camels. Following this sure guide, I soon found myself once more in the safe path, and my feelings at such unlooked for and providential deliverance may be more easily imagined than described. As I was riding slowly along, I discovered, out of the track, a poor Negress lying under a bush, where, overcome by fatigue and illness, she had stopped behind, unregarded, to die. | Having myself so recently escaped the horrors of a fingering death, I felt tenfold commiseration for this poor helpless being.; and having with some difficulty placed her on my horse, I took her quietly along ; at such a pace indeed, as much to retard coiping up with my people, whom I found in great alarm about me. They feared I must have strayed on the desert, or have fallen on the road from sickness; and such were their kind feelings towards me, that they sent a camel and a supply of water, provisions, and a carpet, with two men, to seek for me in all directions. I met them at 5: 30. soon after they set out, and found that the Kaffle had, on my account, stopped for the night two hours before. When I took the slave to her master, who was not aware of her being missing, he gave me no thanks, nor allowed the poor exhausted creature any food or refreshment; and h ad! not been present to prevent it, he would no doubt have added to her sufferings by a severe beating. We had made, as nearly as I could judge from our winding roads, N . 15°. E. twenty-five miles. Friday, March 10th.—At seven we set off; road over small stony hillocks. As Hadge Mohammed, who was master of the Negress, preferred riding his camel to letting her do so, I gave her up my horse. We passed through many Wadeys full of bushes a fight shower at noon, with the wind from the northward saw several hares; and many snakes, not venemous, were killed by the people. I astonished them by taking one or two five ones in my
27f 50
To see the actual publication please follow the link above