Ihe Tent-Dcor, at Abou-Hammed CHAPTER XV.

THE ETHIOPIAN KOKTIEE.

A Draught of Water — Abou-Hammed — The Island of Mokrat — Ethiopian Scenery — The People — An Ababdeh Apollo — Encampment on the Nile — Tomb of an Englishman— Eesa's "Wedding— A "White Arab — The Last Day of the Tear — Abou-Hashym — Incidents — Loss of my Thermometer— The Valley of "Wild Asses — The Eleventh Cataract — Approach to Berber — Vultures — Eyoub Outwitted — We reach El Melc heyref — The Caravan Broken up.

Achmet and I began to feel thirst, so we hurried on in advance, to the mud hamlet of Ahou-Hammed. We dismounted on the bank of the river, where we were received by a dark Ababdeh, who was officiating in place of the Governor, and invited me to take possession of the latter's house. Achmet gave him a large wooden bowl and told him to fill it from the Nile, and we would talk to him afterwards. I shall never forget the luxury of that long, deep draught. My body absorbed 9