202 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AERICA.

Nile a fish about four feet long, which, had just been killed by a crocodile. It was lying near the water's edge, and as I descended the bank to examine it, two slender black serpents slid away from before my feet.

We struck the tent early the next morning, and entered on the aJcaha, or pass of the Wady el-homar. (Valley of Asses.) It was a barren, stony tract, intersected with long hollows, which produced a growth of thorns and a hard, dry grass, the blades of which cut the fingers that attempted to pluck it. We passed two short ranges of low hills, which showed the same strata of coal-black shale, as in the Nubian Desert. The akaba takes its name from the numbers of wild asses which are found in it. These beasts are remarkably shy and fleet, but are sometimes killed and eaten by the Arabs.

We kept a sharp look-out, but saw nothing more than their tracks in the sand. We met several companies of the village eter, is interesting, as it shows a variation fully equal to that of our own climate : 7 a.m. 12 m. 2 p.m.

Korosko, Dec, . 21st 59° 75° 80° Desert, it 22 50° 74° 80° tc iC 23 55° 75° (Bahrbela ,Ma) 85° (( " 24 51° 70° 78° a St 25 54° 78° t 85° a " 26 60° 91° 100° « " 2V 55° — — 95° « it 28 59° — 90° Ahou Hammed " 29 61° — 90° The Nile IC 30 59° — 85° <« " 31 52° 78° « Jan. 1st, 1852 41°