26 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

trial ride to Kenisse, when we were told it was certain that the Pascha would set out at midday or afternoon.

We set about arranging our traps into camel-loads, a camel

carrying about three cwts., so that all might be in order. To

our cook, Achmet, as the most necessary attendant on the march, we assigned a dromedary, and loaded it with our most valuable

articles, so as to always have these near us, as much was to be

feared for all baggage that went with the rear-guard, this being much exposed to be cut off or plundered. In these climes water

is ever a first consideration, and to each soldier had been served out a small leathern flask, while on our camels were placed many

water-skins (girbe), and yet Achmet had, in addition, to hang on

the shady side of his beast another water-skin, made of the un-

tanned hide of an antelope, as we wished to preserve our ov/n two

water-filled sensamien (bags of leather, fitted with a mouthpiece, screwed in, with a hole and straw or reed to drink from) untouched,

in case of any bursting ; and also as the water in these keeps

cooler, being able to ooze through the pores, which is not the case with the girbes, as so doing would cause too great loss. Then we had also to convey the hammab, a tripod six feet high, indispens-

able in warm countries at unloading or camping, to hang the

water-skins on, as the ground is so hot as to suck up all the water, and where no hammah is to be got, some other means of keeping

the skins off the earth is always invented. These water-skins are

without seam ; the heads of the animals are generally cut off (usually

sheep or goats are the sufferers), their skins worked off the body,

without outward cut, down to the lower joints of the legs, that are

left hanging on the skin, and bound across two and two, or cross-

wise, to keep all firm and united ; the neck of the hide forms the mouth, and is firmly bound round and round with strong cord. Some practice is required to drink while riding, out of one of

these, without spilling much water, which, often being more valua-

ble than all other treasures, it is ever looked on as a serious fault to

waste. Besides some clean linen and clothing in a leathern bag

(jurab), Achmet had on the other side our cotton-stuffed pillows ;

his saddle was formed of two Abyssinian cow-hides, placed above

each other, intended to be used under our carpets, and these proved

a most excellent protection against the numerous thorns that