BERBER. 323 This is an example of the splendid swimming power of the Arabs, and of their total disregard of crocodiles. On arriving at Berber, a charge was preferred against the man for ill-treating his slave, and the girl was taken from him, which punishment he certainly deserved.

At Berber we stayed in the old Mission buildings, which are now a branch office of M. Marquet. The former Mudir of Khartoum, Maani Bey, is now Mudir of Berber ; he is a pleasant man. We stopped two days at Berber to make the necessary preparations for crossing the desert.

Since I was last there the town had not altered very much ; it is as damp as ever, and the storms of wind and sand are most unpleasant.

Kemembering the terrible march we had in 1878 from Suakim to Berber, and as we were much weakened by fever and fatigue, I looked forward with a certain amount of anxiety to the ride across the Nubian Desert. Our caravan was, however, light, and as we had plenty of camels in good condition, we hoped for the best and were not disappointed, a quick and pleasant ride of nine days bringing us to Suakim.

We left Berber at sunset on March 6, and in three hours arrived at Bir Mahob, where we stayed until 2 P.M. the next day, to replenish our waterskins, there being no water between this haltingplace and Bir Obaek, about fifty miles distant. y2