CHAPTER XXIV.

Encampment at Abou Sella!. — A native of the Base Settite.— A Dabergoum Sheik offers to conduct us to the Base Settite. — Base Villages on the Settite.

Capture of a Boa-constrictor. — Arrival at Haikota. — The Beni-Amer's Raid on the Base. — A Visit from Sheik Achmed Ageer.— His Lame Apologies.

We found our camping-ground, Abou Sellal, a rather picturesque spot, situated in a deep sandy /('//<?r between hills. Crowds of Base belonging to some other village were there drawing water, and did not seem at all afraid of us.

I made great efforts, both at this village and especially at Lacatecourah, to endeavour to find out something more about the Base villages, their names, and whether there were really any situated on the Settite above where we had been. The information I received was most contradictory, but I give it for what it is worth. In travelling in Africa, one can only feel sure of what one really sees with one's own eyes ; and native report, " that one reads so much about in African books of travel, must be taken very much cum grano.

My experience of the inhabitants of Africa I have come across is, that they will frequently lie for the mere pleasure (for to them, I suppose, it is a pleasure) of lying ; and they will often do so when there is, apparently, - nothing to be gained by it.

The moot-question, of whether any Base have permanent habitations on the Settite, or not, will, I believe, never be settled by us. My impression is, however, that they have villages, 211