CHAPTER XXVIII.

We start for Massawa. — Dra's sad Story. — The Anseba Valley. — An Attempt to make India-rubber from the Qiiol-qiiol Plant. — El Ayn. — Bashi-Bazouks and their Prisoners. — We encamp at the Water-course Camphor.— Occasional Sudden Rising of the Water in the Khors.

At noon on the nth a start was made for Massawa. We had done a good deal of telegraphing to both Suez and Massawa, endeavouring to obtain some idea as to the date of the probable departure of th next steamer from the latter port ; but our replies were so vague and contradictory, that we resolved to lose no time in starting for the coast, there to wait for the first opportunity that should offer itself.

Some of the servants belonging to Sanheit, we left behind.

Gerghis, who came from the same place, and had been with us both winters, Lort Phillips decided to take with him to England. He was a smart, active boy of about seventeen, who had been brought up at the mission, where he had learned a little French. We met some of the soldiers who had been with us the previous winter ; one of whom had proved a useful addition to our entourage, being handy and clever in skinning, and in many other ways. He told us that the Effendi, the head of our ''army" then, had since died. It appeared, that to his military profession he added that of fakir, and was in the habit of collecting live snakes and scorpions with which to perform charms.

He had caught a snake, and placed it in a bag ; and, while assisting at the obsequies of some one near Sanheit, where 251