DESERTED BY THE PORTERS. 2c hills in front of us, which formed part of the mountain system that extends from Dufilé, and follows the eastern side of the river as far as Labdére. Cultivated fields and small villages were scattered among the hills, and the scenery was very lovely, so that the march was a pleasant one, especially as the way led over level red clay, free from briars and other obstacles.

The village of Fagger, the huts of which are scattered over a large circular terrace, is the capital of the Fandikér district, and is encircled by a chain of hills. Crops of durrah, eleusine, tobacco, and sesame grow here, and the little Madi cucumber twines itself about the stalks in every direction.

Little remains to be said about the road from this point to Kérefi and Labére. The porters supplied to us at Fagger begged permission to start early and go on in advance, in order to get back here again in good time from Keérefi, so two of our men were sent with them, and we followed more leisurely, through mist, which was so thick that we could only just manage to find the path. We did not, however, lose much as regards scenery, for the open forest, covering consecutive rows of hills, was very uniform, and was only varied at times by a rich erowth of vegetation near some of the numerous hors. Crossing Khor Yibi, a broad stony, dry ravine, we came to the village of Déreto, which was quite hidden in corn-fields, and here we were annoyed to find that the Fagger porters had no sooner laid down their loads, ostensibly to take a rest, than they disappeared. Déreto was quite a small place, and though Chief Yata did his utmost to get our things carried on, he could not find enough porters, so we had to march two hours farther to Kérefi, and send back some of the porters from there. The path led over red clay completely covered with rubble, and slightly down hill through park land and woods, with here and there a solitary pile of rocks. Keérefi itself had undergone no change since last year; I even found my old huts standing.

The road we took from here to the river deviated slightly from that followed last year. The names I heard for most of the khors were different from those given me last year, but I am inclined to prefer the ones told me this year, because my guide belonged to this place, and seemed tu be well informed. The red sandy flats which extend from Khor Merve to the R