46 Seven Years in the Soudan.

the seribe, who had come to receive the goods which the iUKjars had brought from Khartoum. They served us with coifee and tamarind-water, and afterwards with meat, vegetables, curded milk, and bread of the country. This reception I must say far exceeded my expectations. They placed two huts at our disposal, gave us a quarter of an ox and bread for the soldiers, and begged us to ask freel}'' for whatever we Avislied.

In the afternoon the boat with a part of our luggage arrived. The water of the river was so low that the vessel touched the ground. It was of a greenish colour and very bad taste, and the whole river seemed covered with a layer of green on account of the enormous quantity of floating plants. The air was saturated with a fetid odour, and the ground extremely damp. I spent the night thinking of the difficulties which awaited me on penetrating into the interior.

I had before me another twenty days' march in order to arrive at Shakka, visiting various seribe by the way. The next day I learnt that I could not have any natives to transport the luggage, and that I must await the arrival of the traders, who were expected with several thousands of porters carrN'ing ivory.

I pitched my tent at half an hour's distance from the spot where Ave were, and Avhere the air seemed less pestilential. At three-quarters of an hour aAvay from my new abode I perceived, on the other side of the river, a fine forest, and I determined to visit it for hunting, although I Avas adAised not to A-enture among people Avho Avere so distrustful as the uatiAes.

Fehruarj/ 9.th. — I crossed to the other side with Anson, Haggi and tAVO soldiers, but CAen before arriAang at the forest, we Avere in the midst of the game. At my first shot, made at about a hundred and twenty yards, an arjel fell. Haggi at the same moment succeeded in killingatetal (Antelope Caama(r)) ' Ar'/el (A. Dana and Soemaemigii. ) (?)