A NIGHT JOURNEY. 49 were informed that the prize was an aboti gamdl, or father of many camels, but being old, and of no further use in that capacity, he was sold to us to do what we could with. At night a severe sand-storm arose, which nearly capsized their tent, and, of course, filled every thing— beds, water, and food— with sand.

The following day the purchase of camels was continued.

More cripples were brought in, which their owners attempted to impose on our party, inexperienced in camel-flesh. Whenever an offer was made, the invariable reply, accompanied by a jerk back of the head, was " Efta Allah," literally, ''God open," and so, " May God open your mouth so that you may speak bigger words." However, by about midday they had completed their purchases, paid over the money, and struck camp. They then noticed a disposition, on the part of the late vendors, to abstract their camels : so revolvers were drawn, the camels tied as well as possible in the usual manner, — nose to tail, — and the homeward march commenced about five p.m.

A great deal of trouble was experienced in following the track, which they occasionally missed entirely ; and it was only by observing the stars, that they were enabled to keep in the right direction, as the natives, having sold their camels, and having nothing further to expect, refused to render any assistance, and in all probability hoped they would lose both their way and their camels. They pushed on all night, only stopping to re-fasten the ropes, which for the first few hours the camels were continually breaking ; and halted for a few minutes at daybreak to allow time for eating a few biscuits and dates, and reached our camp at Cassala about two o'clock the next afternoon. After a march of over twenty hours, and having been almost without food for twenty-four, naturally they were much exhausted.