CHAPTER VII.

Purchase of Camels. — Expedition to the Atbara. — The Village of Naouri.

Mosconas and his Son. — White Ants. — Dinner with the Governor. — The Town of Cassala. — Hyaenas. — Pariah Dogs. — Collections for European Zoological Societies.— Hiring Camel-drivers. — Strike of Souakim Servants.

Departure from Cassala. — ])ashi-Bazouks.

As we found it impossible to purchase camels at Cassala, Colvin and my brother Arthur started off with Suleiman, at seven o'clock on the evening of the loth of January, for the Atbara River, where they had heard plenty were to be ob tained. They were back again by half-past one on the afternoon of the 15th, having purchased a number of baggage-camels, which, taking one with another, had averaged thirty-four dollars apiece ; a rather high price, as there were some poor ones among them. The Arabs had not been at all keen to sell, and they had experienced great difBculty in coming to terms with them. They had ridden across a flat, ugly country, overgrown with mimosa bushes, and, after following the track leading to Khartoum for about twenty miles, bore to the north-west, and encamped for the night. After a very early start the next morning, they separated, and went in different directions, in order to acquaint the inhabitants of the various villages with the object of their journey. This had to be done circumspectly, and the subject introduced in the most off-hand and careless manner. After considerable time had been spent in "powwows " with the sheiks, or head men, of the different villages, 47