NATIVE TEIBES. — CHAKIFF. 235 however, tliey attack elephants, of which there are many, as also wild buti'alos and rhinoceroses ; the teeth, hides, and horns of these they bring to Massaua, in the Habesch, and there barter tliem for pieces of cotton cloths for clothing. Both countries receive their waters from the Baraka, and on it, but further up the hills, their villages lie. Each land has a ditterent language, mutually plunder each other of women and cattle, and carry on war among themselves, and against Makada. The men usually wear their hair long, and anoint it with fat. In all these lands gold is unknown, so are also the Abu Nukta and Abu Matfe (Theresa dollars and Spanish piastres), and all trade is carried on by barter in salt, cloths, and cattle.

The troi)ical rains generally commence at Assur or Magreb (three o'clock, p. m., or sunset), are usually accompanied by a Habub (blast of wind), and last till far into the night. In the morning the sky is clear and pure, not a cloud, save those which ahnost the whole day hang round the great hills' rocky dome.

If the cloud (Nedde) withdraws during the day, rain sets in.

However, it has not proved, as we were told by all, that during the Chariii', or rainy season, rain fell day and night, and in drops the size of musket-balls. Not only in the valleys, but in every crevice and fissure of rock, now starts up verdure, even where it could hardly have been looked for. A man here came to my brother, and requested a certain poison, backing his request by saying that he wished to separate from his wife for ever. We advised him to adopt the Mussulman's })lan, and, if his wife was a bad one, to divorce her; but he preferred dying to exercising such a right, and left us much depressed. I had tried to persuade the Pascha not to treat Mohammed Din so harshly ; but he said I did not know him. He at the same time told us, that his policy demanded he should also carry oiF into imprisonment at Chartum, the as-saint-esteemed old Sheik Hagemar,of Mahass, who had long prophesied the arrival of the English in these countries, and now English ships were in the port of Sauakim, from Avhich the people much desired a landing.

Desertion among the soldiery still goes on, and increases : so many are now sick, that all fear to die. The vapours drawn from the water and damp soil by the sun's heat, the many dead camels lying round the camp, have poisoned the air, and brought on a