DISCOMFORTS 



reached a beautiful little stretch of open bush, 

 plentifully shaded by giant umbrella trees. It is here 

 that the Lak Guran has its source ; at least it is 

 towards this point that all the surrounding country 

 gradually and gently slopes, but there is not sufficient 

 water to make a real river-bed until a point a little 

 farther is reached ; this district is called Goniah-iddu, 

 which means the "sandy lonely place." It will be 

 seen, therefore, that the Lak Guran rises in Kurde 

 and flows almost due east until Shimbirleh is reached, 

 which is a very different course to that marked on 

 existing maps. 



I remained here for some time, the storm was 

 approaching and the heat was indescribably op- 

 pressive ; no breath of air stirred, and the poor 

 camels, instead of feeding as usual, lay down in the 

 shade of the trees. It was with some reluctance that 

 I got on my mule again and started off towards 

 Gulola. The march was extremely tedious, and there 

 was nothing to be seen except an occasional bird or 

 even more rarely a dik-dik bounding through the 

 bush. At three o'clock the storm which had been 

 threatening for days broke in earnest ; the rain fell 

 in solid sheets of water and we were immediately 

 drenched to the skin. It is impossible to describe 

 all the discomforts of this kind of weather as you 

 have to face it when marching in a tropical country, 

 but it is too unpleasant for words. Clothes become 

 wet and sticky, the road degenerates into a kind of 

 bog, the mud from which clings to one's boots and 

 makes walking a nightmare ; nothing is dry, while 

 the heat does not grow less, but rather more oppressive 

 than before. At 5.30 we camped in another little 

 clearing, my tent was soon pitched and the fires 



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