208 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

shot, as a signal that here the camp was to be. The outwardly liunible Sheiks, wlio welcomed him here, and most of whom had never heard such a report before, shrunk together and shuddered at the shot, which again recalled a smile to the Pascha's moody face. A loud, far round rolling echo, caused him to have the gun repeatedly fired, he seemed again to feel pride in his superior power, and in announcing his presence to the tribes around by the thunder of his guns. The Turks too did not fail to arouse the echo by repeated volleys of their fire-arms, till one might abnost have fancied he was near the scene of a battle. Not in vain, therefore, did the Viceroy of Egypt style himself in his proclamation to these races, who are little acquainted, if at all, with fire-arms, '•Lord of Armies and Cannon." In the deeper stillness of evening, the echo of the great gun, beating the signal of retreat, was yet more imposing ; the many fires of the camps lighted up the high rocky domes and buttresses, which cast strange shadows, and gave a truly splendid night view, such as we had never seen before.

Next morning we commenced fortifying the camp with j)alisades, as it had only been, during night, surrounded by a low thorn fence. Numberless Dom-palms, from one and a half to two feet in circumference, had been felled in the wood, and sawn into lengths of twenty-five feet, dragged down by men and beasts, and buried upright in the earth, giving the camp an outward form of a lengthened square, with three gates or outlets, while within all Avas disorderly confusion. The entrances, as well as the spaces between these large palisades, Avere filled up with thornbushes, to impede the naked-legged enemy in getting over tlicm even should they not altogether prevent him. Toward evening many fires Avere made outside this seriba, and detachments of cavalry and infantry told oif to them, Avhile the guns Avere placed at the north and south gates, to guard against any surprise. By day guards Avere posted on the eastei'n rocks, on Avhich the camp itself leant, to overlook the country. In the CAening, hoAvever, they Avere AvithdraAvn, on account of the numerous wild beasts. In the interior also some cliange had taken place, so as to keep open passage betAveen the gatps and along the seriba. The Pascha made his rounds, at uncertain hours, round the camp, and up and doAvn it, and seemed proud of his