CHAPTER X.

The Camp moves forward. — Scarcity of Game. — Water easily obtainable.— Difficulties of the Journey.— Baby Crocodiles. — Sheik Achmed rejoins the Travellers.— A Battue. — Mimosa-trees. — Road-cutting through the Jungle. — A Buffalo Adventure.

After spending these two clays at Toadelook, we made a farther move forward, being anxious to get well into the country without more delay ; for we felt all the time that Sheik Achmed Ageer might give us the slip, and our people refuse to proceed farther. We made a march of only five hours and a half, encamping at a place called Toadwan. We pitched the tents high above the river-bed. Although we had considerable difficulty in getting the camels up, as the bank was steep, and a good many bushes had to be cut down, and grass cleared away, before the tents could be pitched, we were glad we had chosen this position ; for the next morning, on awaking, there was a thick fog, — a most unusual phenomenon in this country. Whenever practicable, we encamped above the river's bed ; for, though clean sand was very comfortable for the purpose when there was no wind, we felt, that, if the water were near the surface, we might, by sleeping there, run the risk of getting fever.

We readily obtained water, by digging to the depth of about a foot ; and in a rocky kho} close by, a tributary of the Gash, there were some stagnant pools, but no signs of game, nor had we on the march seen any whatever. We were disappointed in 78