HAIKOTA. 65 looking bird, nearly the size of a turkey, black with a few white feathers in the wings. The beak is thick, and over it protrudes a horn-like substance, the front of which is hollow ; it has enormous red-and-blue wattles. It was the first time we had seen one, though we frequently met them afterwards, usually in parties of two or three ; but they were extremely shy, and rarely permitted us to get within gun-shot. We also found quail for the first time, but not in any numbers.

Haikota is a large village, situated in the bed of the Gash, and formed of the usual mat huts. We encamped on its right bank, some feet above the sand. It took some time to clear a space for the camp, and involved clearing away a number of bushes, and cutting down a quantity of high grass. This done, we set to work to make a zariba to keep the Arabs off as much as- possible ; former experience of such places having taught us that we might expect them in dozens to inspect the ''"Inglees," their goods and chattels.

Our camp we placed close to that of a German animalcatcher, a very agreeable fellow, who had spent eight winters in the Soudan, and whose acquaintance some of us had made four winters previously on the Settite. He had built himself a house, as well as several sheds for his animals ; and, when we arrived, he had three young elephants and fifteen baby ostriches in his compound. He told us that he had paid the Arabs as much as two hundred and fifty dollars apiece for elephants.

Every summer he went to Europe ; he obtained the best prices for his animals in New York, which he had visited twenty-three different times. As he very kindly offered to take charge of the luggage that we wished to leave behind, we gladly accepted his offer, and accordingly dismissed the soldiers ; to the evident relief of the population, who appeared to have a wholesome dread of them.