EXCURSION FROM CAHtP, '8t lihat it is a snAkeor scorpion; and when out shooting we move with eyes bent on the ground, more anxiously looking out to prevent ourselves treading on any venomous reptile, than gazing about for our game. However, during such excursions, we have fallen in With many nebbek-trees ; and, during the rainy season, the plants and herbage must be full and numerous, as even now there is much verdure, though the soil is covered with withered grasses and herbs. There are also many cotton plantations that seem to have been tended with care, all being hedged round and cleared of weeds. In this neighbourhood the durra grows to an astonishing height; on one field it had an average height of four or five times the length of our double rifles, and stood so close that it was with diflBculty we could force our way between the stalks.

6th May,—Early this morning we mounted our dromedaries and, attended by a servant and guide furnished by Mohammed Defalla, took our way to (the two hours and a half distant) El Soffre, where at present Mohammed Din and most of his people reside. The Pascha very reluctantly granted his permission ; and it was in truth an adventurous enterprise, thus, without any protecting escort, to place oneself in the power of these faithless Haddenda. But we were safer all alone, than if accompanied by the few soldiers the Pascha offered us as escort. Our course was eastward : for the first half hour it lay through large durra fields, in which the heads of the grain were cut off from the tall stems, for it was free to any one in the camp to provide himself and beasts with as much of this as he pleased, these Arabs not having as yet shown any great inclination to follow the Pascha's orders of forming a grain magazine, as they put no faith in his promises of payment for their trouble. The greater part has, or will be gathered by the Arabs, who hang about here in troops, and this is hidden by them in their secret stores, so as to render the stay of the army here impossible, for want of this necessary bread stuff. The Arabs (Iluddenda) met us often when some little distance from our camp, and, at last, in large numbers ; and the whole patli from these durra fields to El Soffrfe was one procession of people, camels, and asses laden with durra. Among the former were many crowds of women, but all old and ugly, who sweating under their loads, trotted behind the beasts, while the men, armed with lance and shield, rode or walked proudly and burdenlessin rear o 2