SPORT IN ABYSSINIA. 2 1 5 



were crossing the valley of the Mareb through a 

 thick jungle. We crossed the dry bed of the river near 

 which, only much lower down, we had previously en- 

 camped ; darkness came on as we pushed through the 

 jungle, and we were overtaken by a thunder-storm in 

 the same way we had been before, and we were com- 

 pelled to halt, as it had become pitch dark. We 

 succeeded in lighting a fire, but I had literally nothing 

 to eat, as Petros was carrying the few provisions of 

 which I was possessed ; the only thing in the shape of 

 food that I had was a bag of corn for my mule. I 

 made Goubasee roast some corn in the camp fire ; 

 this he picked out of the ashes, and it constituted my 

 dinner. These hardships would have been bad enough 

 to bear if I had been well, but in my weak state of 

 health they were very trying. I was terribly ill all 

 night, and very cold, as I had nothing to cover me but 

 a cotton shama which I had bought for a dollar at the 

 village of Zadawalka, and, in the morning, I was 

 scarcely able to move. Another night like this would, 

 I think, have finished me, and my tale would have 

 been unwritten. 



March 18. — When daylight dawned my servants 

 went up to some houses, which, although close by, in 

 the darkness we had not been able to see. Petros and 

 Guyndem appeared the first thing this morning, having 

 passed the night in the valley of the Mareb, in the 



