208 ArRICAN WAXDEKINGS.

Schaigies, pushed on eastward. The hills, visible even from •Gos Rajeb, now appeared close at hand, but still we reached them not till mid-day. The flat country, on which were started some hyenas, jackals, and hares, was cut up by many small rain-brooks from the hills, much impeding our march ; most easily might such have been filled up, but Turkish generalship could not condescend to such trifles, and there therefore arose a confusion and straggling unequalled, as . every one took any way he fancied likely to lead him across them. The camels, horses, and asses remained fixed in the mud, drinking; the poor thirsty soldiers rushed blindly after them, and laid about them to get a mouthful of stinking water to cool their burning throats. We also were nearly again mired, having got into a bog, but at last we arrived at the left bank of the Gohr el Gasch, which showed itself shortly before the first rocks, and where we, having got a start of the rest, could coolly drink ourselves, and let our beasts do so likewise. The country, covered with coarse granite sand, washed down from [ the hills, rose somewhat on the opposite side, but was wholly without vegetation. A vale of some halfhour's breadth opened between the high rocky walls of the Mokran (from which also a gohr came down called Baraka) and the hill of Kassela. On the west side of the Mokran mountain we rode southwards to the foot of that of the Kassela el Lus, and there halted to await the Pascha.

The army came on, and order seemed to have been in some measure restored ; but when they arrived at the Gohr Baraka, neither man nor beast was to be restrained ; they rushed on, and quenched their burning thirst in its clear waters, which ran merrily down from the narrow vale-gulley; this seemed, some quarter of an hour further up, where it separated the hill of Kassela from that of Mokran, to narrow greatly, and after running a little distance, to unite itself to the Gohr el Gasch. The heat was most fearful ; neither the more healthy " hill-breeze, the truly magnificent nature of the high, domelike, and bold granite formations, nor the almost picture-like blue colour and romantic form of the mountains of Sabderath, gave for the moment the hoped-for relief, nor made their full impression felt. A consolation it certainly was that wo were to remain here for at least three