THE " QUOL-QUOL." 255 on the surface, when they are easily captured. A drop of this juice, inadvertently getting into one's eye, is said to be sufficient to cause blindness ; and I have heard that the milk of the asclcpia gigantea, an extremely common desert-plant throughout the Soudan, is possessed of the same charming quality. Some Frenchmen had lately taken it into their heads, that the juice of the qnol-qtiol would form a cheap substitute for India-rubber, and expected to make a large fortune by exporting it. Their expectations had been most unduly and cruelly raised, by the report they had received of the first consignment sent to Europe. By some mistake, their consignees had opened a case of India-rubber from Zanzibar, in mistake for the qnolquoly and immediately wrote to them to send all they could possibly obtain at the price they had named, which was far lower than what Zanzibar India-rubber cost. On receiving this report, they sent off a great quantity as quickly as they could, and had sent a great deal before a second letter reached them, demanding what they meant by sending such rubbish. Then the whole mistake was cleared up, but not before the poor Frenchmen had lost largely by the transaction. In shape, this tree resembles a cone reversed. It grows to a height of twentyfive to thirty feet, and bears yellow and red coloured fruit, which grow together in clusters, in much the same way as dates.

We did not see much game ; but Lort Phillips shot a very fine buck nelliLt after a stalk to the top of a hill. This species of antelope is always found in very hilly districts, but does not frequent wide, open plains, like gazelle, ariel, and many other varieties of antelope. Lions are sometimes seen in this country, and used to be very common. We were also told that a panther had been lately seen near Calamet.

Another long day's march took us to El Ayn. We were descending all the time ; and often travelled in the wide, sandy