182 UGAXDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

its navigation. AVe passed a large herd of buffaloes, but, as our party was scattered, we did not disturb them ; as, when attacked, they often hunt the hunter.

On the other side of the river we met about 100 soldiers on their way to Djour Ghattas ; and soon afterwards Saati Eifendi, the mudir of the Bahr-el-Ghazel, and a Greek merchant, named Nicola. As it was mid day we halted, and, not having tasted food for thirty hours, we much enjoyed a lunch provided for us by the Greek, which consisted of biscuits and cheese, together with olives and a bottle of claret. We had a hard afternoon's march, crossing the Khor Jumvu by a tree-bridge, which was a very difficult proceeding. The country is slightly rolling ground, gradually ascending until Dem Idris is reached.

I shall not soon forget our camp that night ; we had marched on until the sun had set, and longed to find a spot on which to camp ; the forest showed no signs of a clearing, until at last, at about half-past seven, we came to a splendid open space, covered with short grass and surrounded by the trees. Here we halted, and soon large fires dispelled the darkness. Two of Gessi Pasha's orderlies were most clever in making grass beds, and a number of natives were speedily at work collecting grass from the forest for their construction. By the time our frugal supper was finished,