254 A PLEASANT SPOT.

for naturalists, many interesting and brightly plumaged birds being found there. Partridges were extremely plentiful, and of two kinds, — the Francolimis Ruppelli and F. gnttiiralis. We shot a good many of them, and they afforded excellent sport. We also shot some beautiful trogons and large yellow pigeons, besides doves of different kinds, — the coluniba Guinea Turtur Scnegalensis, and Tveron Abyssinica.

The trees were very numerous, large, and of many different kinds ; in fact, a pleasanter camping-ground it would be difficult to find, our only regret being that we had not more time to spend there. One tree that was very common there had long hanging tendrils, from which hung a pod-like fruit about two feet in length.

The journey from Sanheit to El Ayn is certainly, as far as scenery and climate are concerned, the most agreeable I ever made in the Soudan. Our next day's journey was as far as Calamet, twenty-three miles. After following the course of the Anseba for five or six miles, we left it, and soon began to ascend a very steep hill, most trying for the camels, which were rapidly decreasing in number ; many of them had died, some had been sold for an old song, and five given to the priests.

On reaching the summit of the mountain, we obtained a most extensive view. The path down the other side was longer, and quite as steep as the one by which we had come up. The flora differed from any thing we had yet seen : there were aloes, the castor-oil plant, cacti of many kinds, including the qnol-qicol, and bright-coloured flowers in great profusion. The quol-qiiol {eiipJiorbia Abyssinica) contains a poisonous, white, milky juice, which is very sticky, and flows out plentifully on a sprig being wounded or broken. I believe that the Abyssinians use this juice for catching fish in the small streams, by throwing a quantity of it into the water ; the fish become insensible, and float