THE ATBARA RIVER' 107 



sheep and goats between this and Kituit, but have 

 seen or heard no sign of them. Bagged a Heuglin in 

 morning stalk. Hit him first time in stomach at 60 

 yards. He ran some 300 yards, and gave some trouble 

 to track him. However, Fadl ul Maula, a camel-man, 

 worked out the trail, and spotted him lying down 

 at 30 yards, when a second shot finished him. 



December 2lst. Spent a fruitless night in hippo- 

 machan. Then started packing my trophies for 

 Mahomed Nagi, my interpreter, to take back with 

 him to Souakin. Eeceived a post from Gedarif and 

 wrote letters. 



December 22nd. Bagged one sand-grouse in morning 

 in nine shots ! On the way back to camp killed a 

 7|-inch Heuglin, jumping it out of a bush, when it 

 foolishly stood at 20 yards. Completed arrangements 

 for marching. 



December 23rd. Marched 5 miles to Tomat, bagging 

 one sand-grouse with two shots on the road. Saw 

 three Heuglin, but no buck, and two small wart-hog. 

 Discharged Sadh, one of the camel-men, who is always 

 ill, paying his wages to the end of the month. En- 

 gaged Labab at Ps. 150 per mensem to replace him. 

 Fished the whole afternoon without a bite. Tomat 

 not a promising place for shikar. Found the hippo 

 hide, left undressed under the advice of M. N., show- 

 ing unmistakable signs of going bad. 



