CHAPTER XXII 



I hear of big game — Evasion — Orders that I am not to shoot — A dilemma 

 — Send a messenger to Menehk — A long wait — A friend in need — 

 Despatch letters to Ras Mangasha — Attempt to burn me out — Small 

 buck-shooting — The upper waters of the Blue Nile — Bushbuck-shoot- 

 ing — A fine waterfall — Native fishermen — My men attacked — Trial by 

 elders — Verdict — Reconciliation ceremony — A large market — A party 

 of hunters — A fool of a messenger — A curious request — Doctoring 

 the natives — Former trade with the Soudan — Professional beggars. 



On 28th March I started ahead of the mules through 

 a well-wooded country, which had lately been fired ; and 

 in one little copse of large trees, the boles of which had 

 only been licked by the flames, I saw a solitary goraza 

 or black-and-white monkey, the only one I had come 

 across except at Managasha. After two and a half hours' 

 march, we came to a great stretch of open country, on 

 which the new grass was just sprouting. Here a number 

 of bohor were feeding, but I could see no good bucks. 

 We were tw^o hours crossing the plain, before we came 

 to the first water, where in the bed of a little stream, 

 at a place called Dungoler, there were two pools, beside 

 which camp was pitched on some unburnt grass, near 

 a few scrubby thorn trees. The local Shum, Ledj 

 Desster, came to visit me, bringing provisions and a 



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