SFOJiT IN ABYSSINIA. 89 



This crop is watched by small boys of the village, 

 to protect it from birds, deer, elephants, etc., but in 

 many cases the best part of it is destroyed. The 

 crop, or rather crops — for sometimes they reap two or 

 three — are so heavy that it does not greatly matter if 

 a little is eaten. The dry bed of the Mareb was at 

 the bottom of this field, and thick, impenetrable jungle 

 rose up on all sides, so we agreed to camp in the 

 open field by the bank of the river. 



I said the river was dry ; by this I mean that the 

 water runs under the sand, and is got at by making 

 a hole, when it gradually filters through. The water 

 is excellent for drinking, and deliciously cool. I 

 ordered my servants to make a large hole in the 

 sand, and the water here I arranged should be 

 kept apart for our own drinking ; no one was 

 either to wash in it or foul it in any way. It is 

 a very good plan when near a stream to make your 

 servants do all their washing, etc., down the stream, 

 so as to keep the water as pure as possible for your 

 own drinking. The time we spent on the Mareb I 

 shall always look back to with great pleasure. Our 

 little camp was very conveniently fixed. The jungle 

 here teemed with all sorts of most beautiful birds, 

 including partridges and guinea-fowl in abundance. 

 The little sandgrouse used to come in flocks every 

 evening to drink from the scattered pools along the 



