314 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN at the end of that time, numerous villages being passed eii route. At the end of every day's journey we found halting-places ready for the travellers ; these were good large huts, surrounded by thorn fences to keep off the hyaenas, many of which may be heard : HILLS SEEN BEFORE ABOU KVRAT.

prowling about the camp at night. Near Woad ez Zaki we saw a good deal of iron-smelting ; the furnaces were well constructed, and fairly good work seemed to result. The men took turns at the bellows, and sang as they worked. The only mountain we saw until within forty miles of the Nile was Gebel Magana. From Obeid to Abou Kurat the road is very good ; in many places the thorn bushes have