THE BAGIRIMI 153 



A practically uninhabited tract of flat desert country 

 stretched before us. Patches of coarse grass from six 

 to eight feet high concealed our view, and gave an 

 almost stifling feeling of imprisonment, which was ac- 

 centuated by the dancing haze of heat. Fortunately in 

 many parts the grass had been burnt, but that, too, had 

 its drawbacks, for powdered ash rose to choke us, and 

 our clothes were soon covered with long stripes of dirt 

 where they had touched the blackened stems. The 

 withered, sapless growth on the yellow sand was 

 monotonous, and, where swamps had dried up, the 

 dreariness was emphasised by a caked surface of 

 varnished grey mud. Yet, even in the merciless glare 

 of midday there was a certain beauty ; and the sober 

 background made a splendid setting for the gaily 

 coloured birds. Electric -blue jays, with tails twice 

 their own size, perched and strutted on the ground ; 

 and gaudy little scarlet and emerald birds flashed by 

 in the sunshine. Palms stood out in dark relief, and 

 their dull brown tasteless fruit hung in immense 

 clusters, while young offsets grew close beside the 

 parent stem. Round green and red fruits were 

 scattered over the earth, and sometimes it was 

 covered with bright golden patches where the blossom 

 had fallen from mimosa - trees. These scented the 

 air with a heavenly fragrance, and each night their 

 red stems stood out brilliantly as they were lit up 

 by shafts of light from the setting sun. They were 

 of scrub growth, and grew so thickly that it was often 

 necessary to stoop low in the saddle to dodge their 

 thorny embraces, or careless riding was punished by 

 a scratchy branch in one's face, while others clung to 

 one's clothes as the horse walked resolutely onwards. 



