EXCITEMENT IN CAMP, 119 rifles and a horse ; and, worse than all, that Mahomet had been speared, and was left behind dangerously wounded.

We made all haste to the camp, where we found every one in a high state of excitement, and dreadfully anxious about us, as they knew we had gone in much the same direction that the others had taken when they were attacked. They were engaged in strengthening the zariba, and had fired the grass on the other side of the river's bed, opposite the camp ; as, in case of an attack, it would have been a grand shelter for our assailants. They had, moreover, dealt out all spare guns and rifles to those of our servants whom they imagined most competent to use them. I fancy, however, that, if any thing had happened, they would most of them have been just as likely, perhaps even more so, to shoot some of us or themselves, as to do any damage to the hostile natives.

We were, of course, most eager to hear full particulars of what had occurred, and were not long in hearing the whole story. Lort Phillips and Aylmer had proceeded some eight or nine miles up the dry bed of Khor Ma Ambasah, and were making for a mountain called Gala, which rose on the west bank of the kJior, and at the foot of which there were said to be some pools of water at which rhinoceri, buffaloes, and other animals were in the habit of drinking. They had nearly reached Gala, and were riding in the sandy bed of the kJior, keeping a sharp look-out for game, and feeling pretty sure that they would come across some either going to drink, or returning from the water ; when, on turning a bend, they saw first one and then another man run across, while a third, in a baobabtree, was gathering fruit.

The Base who were with them, without looking farther, immediately turned tail, and fled. They had evinced no fear when starting from camp, and had said nothing about the Abyssinians ;