148 ROYAL GAME.

noon, we could not have come up with them before darkness had set in. On arriving in camp we found that about the worst possible place had been chosen for the tents, which had been pitched above the Gash, on a piece of ground which had been lately covered with grass, and, this grass having been burnt, the wind, which was very high at the time, blew the ashes about in all directions, and covered every thing with them. We always had our table laid for dinner outside, in the open air ; but on this occasion we were forced to have it moved inside a tent, as we were nearly blinded by the charred remains of the grass.

It was from this point that our Haikota horsemen had promised to turn off with us to the Settite, and we had fully expected to start the following day. Soon after our arrival, however, we felt convinced a storm was brewing, as the men were unwontedly excited, and talking a great deal among themselves.

It was not very long before a deputation came to us, to beg we would go another day's journey, a short one, they said, farther on, before turning off ; they gave, as a reason for the change of route, a better road and more water, and declared (which was quite true) that the majority of the camels were not in a fit state to undertake a journey over a very bad road. We decided on taking their advice, and gave the order to start the next day, and encamp at the place they named, which is called Sekabah.

The following day, as Colvin and Lort Phillips were riding on ahead of the caravan, on the lookout for game, they suddenly came across a lion and lioness. Lort Phillips, having had his horse taken by the Dembelas, had since been obliged to ride a camel, — than which no beast can be more provoking. He jumped off as quickly as possible ; but the animal set up such a fearful noise that it frightened the lions, who made off towards some high grass growing near. He had a shot at the lion at