36 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

of them ; almost all the mounted people galloped like a wild hunt

after him, and we also advanced at a sharp trot, to behold nearer

the extempore chasse. We fancied our cliief had fallen from his

horse, so speedily had he swung himself to the ground, and with

three shots he brought down three gazelles, of which, in the even-

ing, we received a good portion roasted. The river is here

pretty broad ; on the opposite bank we next morning, when

looking about us, perceived some crocodiles. On the river's edge were many very beautiful pebbles ; the banks are rocky and of

sandstone, as is also the bed ; pieces of decaying Thorn-mussel were scattered about here and there, but we saw no other shells.

In spite of the day being fearfully warm, the march was conti- nued all day till evening. My brother, from his great exertions, was taken ill, had violent headache, and felt as if drunk, but luckily

slept all night. The plain we had ridden over was monotonous,

covered with reedlike mimosas ; the soil most sandy.

21th March. — Joseph cannot rise, has dreadful thirst, and com-

plains that his hair is on fire on his head. We wisely halted here

till after mid-day, let the army march on before us, remaining on

the river bank till the cooler evening, and then hastened on after

the Pascha. On the river's right bank was to be seen the gebl

(hill) Job, or Joe, rising up, all isolated, like a pyramid : this hill was visible yesterday. To-day two other large hills have come

into sight, one in the east, the other to the south. We have

remarked that the birds gradually return after the army has passed

on, and we only remain. The left side of the river is not culti-

vated, the right very much so ; many large fields of durra and doggen (Sorghum saccharatum). Topschi Baschi lent my brother

his easy-going mule, which gave him great relief. Gazelles were

seen in large herds, hurrying back from the desert, here very

sandy and deep, to the river, by paths worn by their own feet. At our camping-place to-day the heat was so great, that guns and sabres, even under the tent, could hardly be laid hold of. For the first time, the soldiers had flesh served out to them, and

each captain got a sheep ; on every camel and ass flesh was to

be seen hanging, and the birds of heaven often approached most

near to these, in their nostrils, sweet-smelling scaflblds. The

right bank of the river, for the last two days' march, was the