RATE OF PROGRESS. 25 man with their spears, which had been taken away from them, and tied together in a bundle.

It was not only important that we should get out of the rains as quickly as possible, but more so that we should let the men see, at the very outset of our journey, that we were the masters, not they, and that they were to do as they were told. Accordingly we insisted on their loading up again, which they did very quickly; and just at dusk we resumed our march, not halting until 9. 15. On our right was a high range of mountains, through which led the road to Berber ; while on our left a level, sandy plain, covered with green grass and low scrub, stretched to the sea.

We experienced great difficulty in pitching our tents in the dark, as most of the men were new to the work ; and as we were only just commencing our expedition, no one knew where any thing was, nor what was required of him. Every thing was wet, and it was very difficult to make charcoal burn ; so that it was 12.30 before we had dined and could go to bed. We had seen a few gazelle {Gazella Aralnca), and a herd of ariel {Gazella Dama), but all very shy. Each year they become less numerous on the caravan-routes ; and my brother Arthur, the only one of the party who had made the journey before, said they were far less common than when he passed over the same road four years before.

The following day we got an eight-hours' march out of our camels, and without any great difficulty with the drivers : they had begun to know their loads, and the inevitable squabbling that takes place at starting was nearly over.

An eight-hours' march for the caravan is as much as can be accomplished with comfort. As soon as the loads are taken off at night, the camels are turned out to feed ; at dusk, unless there is a moon, they must be collected in camp again, to be