ATBARA EIVEK. 31

beautiful and green as yesterday, larger durra fields, but only two

water-wheels. The Atbara is not rich in lish, but crocodiles and

Nile-horses abide in the deeper places tlie whole year througli. We saw and heard many geese and ducks, but did not disturb

them, as, had we shot them we could not have got tliera ; other

birds we saw not, nor did we fall in, outside the camp, with any

natives, all of whom seemed, like the Omerabs, to have got out of

the army's way, tlie Sheik of the latter, alone-, being witli the

camp, and accompanying it through his country. From the fis-

sures of the sandstone in the river's bed sprouted up a splendid

species of willow, with bright green leaves, like a freshly shot

oleander, full cup-shaped wliite blossoms, and odour like jessamine,

but not so pungent or agreeable; pistils full of white bitter milky

fluid ; seed very small and hanging in threads of a finger's length,

intersecting each other like a spider's web. The river makes

great windings between its wildly beautiful banks, from whicli the

trees hang down, often touching the water, and in many places

having fallen into it, render its navigation somewhat difticult,

though these hindrances could be easily overcome. The increasing

heat, accompanied by a hotter wind, that blew disagreeably round

our brows, sent us back to the camp. This district of country has

as inhabitants, the Kabyle of Kamraarabs, who are a considerable

tribe, and extend southward to the lands of the Schukurie, under

the great Sheik, Abu Sind, and has, as its superior chief, the

great Sheik, Aburof. On the opposite right bank of tlie Atbara

live the Kabyle of the Anafidab, a most thievish race, and much

given to plunder and steal the Kammarab's camels. The Ana-

fidab are of the race or tribe (Gins) of the Bischari, and form a

kabyle (clan or community) of their own, under their own chiefs.* We hear, that all grain, to be had here and hereabouts, is to be

delivered up at the six day's journey distant from here, Gos

Rajeb, where a great magazine is to be formed.

The cannon was fired at midday, just as we had finished our meal;

although at first seeing this I had felt little appetite, and almost

loathed food, still I tried to eat ; but suddenly I became seriously ill,

* IIo^v the French in Algeria, — called el Gescier by the Arabs, ^ can use

the word kabyle for any particular persons, tribe, or country, I cannot compre-

hend.