250 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

been more tlian half a year from Chartum, and constantly in the field, and not once have I enjoyed the great luxury of reposing undressed between clean-washed linen sheets, but liave invariably slept, full dressed, on the ground, or on the angareb. Our best linen soon vanishes, as the constant perspiration spoils its purity, the chalky dust burns into it, and the servants know nothing of washing ; near their black skin all seems to them white ; and, alas I for three months we have had no soap. Li tlie midst of such a lazy, idle life, creeping on like a slow fever, all at once one hears the cry of " Jalla!" and one hangs for four or five days, eighty or a hundred leagues on a camel's back, shaken and rubbed till sore in body and bones, with a glowing sun, or sudden cold, and constant thirst and hunger as embellishments. But a man can bear much ; I have held out through what I never would have believed. In violent fever, mounted on a dromedary, in midday sunbeams, more dead than living, held on by others, — and yet I recovered. To remain behind was certain death from the hand of the enemy, or the teeth of wild beasts. I have experienced what necessity will force a man to bear. Li this monotonous state of existence and uniform manner of life, I compared myself to the camels ])ieketed outside our tent, under the burning sun, now perfectly quiet, now lazily stretching themselves, undisturbed, though crows and ravens walk about on their backs, ever chewing the cud, or, as a change, seizing a blade of grass, and never showing the slightest sign of joy or curiosity.

CHAP, xiv: Ailvancc against the Enemy. — Ketreat.— Omar Kasclief. — Great Cavern of the Kassela-el-Lus. — Baobab Trees. — Hunting. — Birds. — Beasts Tasc'lia's I'lans. — Qnit the Camji for Chartum. — Conchision.

The Iladdenda continue shooting our camels, although these are sent out to feed under military escort. We, ourselves, have during this cam])aign lost in all live and twenty camels and six dromedaries l)y such robberies, — a loss that falls on our own purse, as we could not bring ourselves to ask the