12 Seven y^cars in the Soudan.

two hundred ;ind ten camels, while Majoi' Campbell and M. Linant do Bellefonds Avere to follow with, the remaining seventy.

The preparations completed, the endless caravan filed before ns ; we mounted the camels, and b}^ six o'clock in the evening encamped in the desert. Next day we resumed our march, the heat "svas insufferable, and the land was burnt up. Those who are not accustomed to ride on camels suffer terribh^ and generally experience acute pain in the spine. The greater part of the way I may say [ made on foot.

From Suakim to Berber is a distance of three hundred English miles. Those who have any experience of the desert from Korosko to Berber by Avay of the Nile, always prefer to go by Suakim. The desert of Korosko is arid, and the stations lie fourteen hours' journey from each other, wdiile rid Suakim the stations are only eight hours apart, excepting two between which the journey takes twelve hours.

All along the road from Suakim pasturage can be found for the camels, shady spots with trees to rest under, and game is not wanting, while none ot" these things exist by Avay of the Nile.

Half way we arrived at ^Iriab ; the place is well adapted for a halt of twenty-four hours. AVe encamped under the shade of a centenary tree, Avatered the camels, and got all read}- to resume our journey the next day. Partridges came in large flocks to the spring in the evening, and Mr. Eussell was successful in bringing down sixteen. The partridge of the desert is smaller and lighter in colour than the common one, its flesh is very hard, es])ecially the skin, which we were obliged to remove. The gazelles showed themselves frequentl}^ but were very difficult to hit. It was also very difficult to get any lambs for owv kitchen, the Bedouins fearing that they would not be paid for. The l-arass (police) and the soldiers, Avhen they cross the desert, set themselves to steal the flocks from the shepherds. Some gendarmes of Khartoum, who escorted