236 KHOR BARAKA.

and met a number of donkeys laden with water-skins, evidently carrying the daily supply.

Two more camels gave out ; and we presented them to some Arabs, hoping they might pick up. The work our camels had to do was not too severe, but we could not get them properly looked after. The journeys we took them were shorter, and the loads they had to carry less, than the natives would have placed on their backs ; but we found it impossible to keep them in good condition.

The weather we found less hot than it had been latterly on the Gash, and the nights were cool ; while in the afternoon heavy clouds would sometimes obscure the sun, rendering travelling much pleasanter. After a four-hours' march, we reached a place called Gargi, situated in Khor Baraka, which we had heard a great deal about, as a likely place for lions.

Gargi consisted of a movable village of mat huts, placed in the bed of the kJior.

Khor Baraka is one of the largest and most important in the Soudan. It runs from the Anseba to Tokar, two days' journey from Souakim. The previous winter we had spent some time on it and some of its tributaries. It is bordered by a thick fringe of //?/?«-palms, and in many places is very picturesque. We afterwards heard that the two officers of the "Blues," who had travelled with us from Suez to Souakim, had shot a lion at that very place. One of them gave a most graphic account of their adventure, in ''Baily's Magazine."

They were sleeping out in the open air, which they preferred to a tent, not very long before we encamped in the same spot ; and the night was very dark. After having been asleep about two hours, in the sandy bed of the kJior they were suddenly aroused from their slumbers by a horrible shriek, and loud cries of Asad asad!'' (lion.) Every one was in commotion