HAJER-EL-HAMIS 205 



ceased to slap our hands and faces the worst extremity 

 of torture was averted. 



Meanwhile we heard distant shots, and as some of 

 the boys were behind concluded they had lost the 

 track and were in need of help. A rescue-party was 

 despatched with lamps, and after a long interval voices 

 were heard returning. The flow of language and em- 

 phasis of utterance steadily increased till Mastaba 

 reached us, and, with much gesticulation, demonstrated 

 how they had been held up in the narrow path by a 

 hippo. He had a rifle, but was no shot, so he prud- 

 ently abstained from pointing at the beast, lest he 

 might wound without killing it, and thus incite it to 

 reprisals. Instead he fired into the air, in the hope 

 that the noise would frighten it away, but it only 

 wandered a few yards fi'om the track and returned 

 whenever the boys prepared to pass. Finally they 

 were forced to accept their defeat and break and cut 

 their way through the prickly bush as best they might. 

 Poor things. They were greatly perturbed at their 

 adventure, and came in torn and dishevelled. 



Dawn found us at the edge of the lake, gazing out 

 across the little bay at Hajer-el-Hamis, which, though 

 actually but a few hundred feet in height, seems a 

 veritable mountain in that sandy plain, where for 

 several days' journey these rocks are the only eminence. 

 One hill, the highest, stands alone, and it was here 

 that the Ark rested when the Flood subsided. If 

 there are any sceptics who demand proof thereof, let 

 them go to Hajer-el-Hamis with eyes open to the 

 evidence of birds and beasts, for these could hardly 

 have found their way there in such variety and 

 number had it not been for their historic origin. 



