136 UGANDA AND TEE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

between two low hills, the names of which I could not discover. I do not know who invented the Soudan donkey saddle, but one need not be very grateful to him for his invention, for a more uncomfortable seat cannot well be imagined. The only way to ride with any comfort is to cross the legs in front over the donkey's neck, and this does not give a very firm seat, for the slightest stumble on the donkey's part may easily upset his rider. A good word should, however, be said for the animals themselves ; they seem never to be tired, and are, as a rule, swift and sure-footed. "We saw a large troop of monkeys, which I took to be chimpanzees, but could not get a shot, though we followed them for some distance. The natives are very much afraid of these monkeys, for they are very fierce, and often attack small parties of men, and still oftener carry oS a woman if found alone in the fields. At Shambil, on one occasion when the soldiers were away, a troop of about 100 monkeys attacked the place, pulled down many houses, and in so doing set fire to the town and destroyed the magazines.

The next day, October 3, a quick march of five hours brought us to the important town of Agar, lyack, or Dafalla, as it is called by different people ; but Dafalla seems to have fallen into disuse, and lyack is the name by which it is commonly known. A motley crew turned out to meet us, and bullets were whizzing about in all directions to welcome us.