EEJOIN THE ARMY. 35 this village, also, were without all shade. Here, again, two guides had to be seized on by force, and our presence alone prevented our spoil-loving body-guard from plundering it. We then reached the crcat village Wady, which was picturesquely situated under shady trees, along the river's bank. From hence our road lay over a T.'ide plain, without tree or bush to afford us shelter ; at midnight we halted and dismounted.

CHAP. III.

Rejoin the Army. — Arab Sheiks. — Ruins of Hcrrcrcm. — The Mirage. — A Couutry March.— Corn Stores. — A Sheik of tlic Hallenga.— False Alanns. —A Skirmish.

25th March.— Before sunrise we were off again. Coffee we could not prepare, for want of wood ; one of the Schaigies milked his female camel, and gave us some of its milk, which tasted fresh and excellent. We now again struck the way the army had taken.

Numerous wild Kurbisse (Colocynthi) covered the ground in many places. The braying of an ass was plainly heard in this soundless waste ; on we went, and came to a female ass with broken leg, — seemingly the field-piece had gone over it; a newly-dropped foal stood by the mother, over whom already circled in air the vultures ; from these she seemed to call on us to protect her. The young beast was placed in a net, slung on a camel, and the old one, at our express order, shot, to save her from a lingering death. By noon we were in the camp on the Atbara.

The Pascha, seated on the ground, in the shade before his tent, had remai-ked us when at some distance, tliough we could have dispensed with seeing him ere we had first taken some rest. He was, from exposure to the sun during these last few days, much burnt, seemed ill, and suffering ; he nevertheless received us with commiserating kindness, and said he had already received a message telling him of our welfare. Tired as we were, we must mount again at two hours after noon. Many gazelles were started ; the Pascha, gun in hand, galloped his Arabinn stallion into the midst D 2