20 HIRING AND BUYING CAMELS.

borders of the Dembelas country (where we had been the previous winter), but were rather disappointed with the sport they obtained. One of them succeeded in penetrating to some of the Dembelas villages, — a feat that had only been previously accomplished by the Marquis Antinori, the Italian traveller, the country being almost terra incognita : he reported it to be very hilly, and impassable for camels, but found the people friendly, possessing better houses than their neighbours who were under Egyptian government, and he observed more appearance of cultivation. He saw very little game.

Most of our provisions we had brought from England, which we found more economical than getting them in Cairo. Our outfit had been chiefly obtained from Silver in Cornhill, and nearly every thing we got from him proved satisfactory.

We paid five dollars and a half each for our camels to Cassala, a distance of about two hundred and eighty miles. Our personal property in beasts of burden, which was destined afterwards to increase to considerable proportions, commenced from this date. My brother Arthur bought a very good hygeen, or riding-camel, at the upset price of a hundred dollars. He had formerly belonged to Ala-ed-Deen Pacha, and, though slow, was very easy in gait, a great desideratum. His name was "Bellus;" though what "Bellus" means, I am sure I don't know. My other brother also bought a hygeen from an Arab, who rode after us with it, when we had gone an hour from the town ; for this animal he gave forty dollars, and forthwith christened him Snodgrass." These camels brought them both back eventually to the coast, but they were about done for when they arrived.

Colvin and Aylmer each bought a horse, the only specimens of the equine race of which Souakim could boast ; they were wiry little animals, and came from the Hamran country. Al-