184 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
admonished never to be seen near the camp, on pain of 
death. 
The next day we had to retrace our steps a little way to 
get out of the valley of El Dere, and then march straight 
to the north. It was misty when we started, but soon 
a heavy downpour of rain commenced, and lasted all 
day, thoroughly soaking the loads. The path, which led 
through a narrow gorge between two lofty mountains, with 
precipitous sides, called Mt. Erer, and then across a flat 
and bushy plain to the base of a long mountain chain, was 
now converted into a small torrent, and the camels were 
continually falling down in the slippery mud. We had to 
keep moving, as we could not camp in the water, but the 
rain never ceased. Finally, after eight hours of hard labor, 
we found a little sloping ground, where the water drained 
off quickly, and here we halted. Tired and shivering as we 
were, we could get nothing to eat for a long time, as it was 
impossible to start a fire; but there was plenty of water to 
be had by collecting the rain as it fell. 
The path now gradually rose, and curved around the sides 
of ahigh mountain, the view being magnificent as we looked 
south, far down a broad valley surrounded by rugged 
mountains and covered by forest. I had managed to buy 
several more camels, oxen, and donkeys at El Dere, so 
that the camp at night seemed once more well filled. My 
diary tells me: “One hundred camels growl and snort, 
twelve bullocks bellow, thirteen donkeys and three mules 
bray and neigh, and forty goats and sheep make what 
noise they can; the men sing, yell, and dispute, and now 
and then a rifle is fired to warn passing creatures not to 
treat the camp with contempt. Such is night in camp; 
but yet I am so used to it that the noise does not affect 
my, testsa, little bit:. 
On March 26 we found ourselves at some perennial wells 
