SFOR T IN ABYSSINIA. 1 5 5 



the stream, where they would have been devoured by 

 crocodiles. The man who had charge of them lost his 

 head, and became very nearly as frightened as were 

 the beasts themselves ; at last some of the servants 

 rushed into the water, got below the cows, and drove 

 them back to the bank they started from. They then 

 attempted again, and crossed in safety. I fixed the 

 camp amidst a large grove of dome-palms ; a prettier 

 place could not well be imagined. The ground was 

 perfectly flat ; in fact, as if it had been thoroughly 

 stamped down. There was a beautiful shade of a large 

 leafy tree close by, but unluckily, as is often the case 

 in Eastern climes, where the scene is of the loveliest 

 the place is most unwholesome ; and, as proved after- 

 wards, most of us, m}'sclf included, fell ill, which I 

 believe was a great deal owing to our not having fixed 

 our camp on one of the high hills that overlooked the 

 river, instead of down in the river-bed. Experientia 

 docet, and, as my readers will see afterwards, I paid 

 dearly for what little experience I gained in rough 

 travel in this country. 



I heard, in a pool below the ford where we had 

 crossed, some animals making an unusual noise, grunt- 

 ing and blowing. I went down with my gun-bearers to 

 the edge of the river, and, behold ! there were eight 

 fine hippopotami disporting themselves in the river, 

 much in the same way as the old river-horse at the 



