FISH 



were traces of three old wells overgrown with reeds 

 and fallen into disuse. In the centre was a little 

 water, fast disappearing, yet in the mud I discovered 

 several small fish about 4 inches long. Two of 

 these I caught and brought back for identification, 

 and presented, with other specimens, to the British 

 Museum. How strange it seemed to find them so 

 far from any permanent stream or lake ! I think 

 there can be no doubt that there is an underorround 

 flow of water here, as, accordino^ to native information 

 from various sources, water is always to be found at 

 a depth of about 10 feet. But whether these fish are 

 able to burrow down through the mud until they reach 

 it, when the surface water evaporates, I am unable 

 to say. 



While the camels were feeding here, I interviewed 

 the headman of the village which was situated near 

 by. He told me that they were on the point of 

 moving, but had been delayed by illness, which proved 

 on investioation to be malaria. I g-ave him some 

 quinine, for which he was very grateful, and some 

 tobacco, which was eagerly accepted. 



Later I moved on again ; the weather had now 

 grown most oppressive and a couple of showers fell, 

 but so slight that they did no good, and only increased 

 the humidity. We had now entered the district of 

 Kurde and the densest bush I had yet encountered. 

 Travelling became monotonous in the extreme, and 

 for four hours there was no opening of any kind in 

 the bush where I could camp, but at last, towards 

 sunset, we emerged into a little clearing where I 

 decided to halt. After the camels had been unloaded 

 and the fires lit, there was not a piece of ground as 

 large as a shilling that was not covered with loads, 

 I 129 



