VISIT TO A HAPPY FAMILY. 43 



shops kept by Greeks for the supply of goods to the few 

 Europeans who reside in or visit this place ; and here, 

 under the shade of a clump of trees, two oxen may be 

 seen perpetually walking round in a circle whilst turning 

 a wheel with buckets attached to it, which brings up 

 from a well the chief supply of water to the inhabitants. 

 This water is excellent, and is obtained from the Gash, 

 a river that flows from Abyssinia, and when near Kassala 

 gets lost in the dry season beneath the sand, and thus 

 at no great depth passes under the town. 



Beyond the main thoroughfare numerous narrow 

 by-ways are found winding about amongst the houses, 

 so narrow that there is barely room for a camel to pass, 

 and so dusty that one feels almost stifled in them. 



Whilst our house was being put in order we paid a visit 

 to the establishment of agentleman of European celebrity, 

 named Cohen, where may always be seen the best speci- 

 men of ' a happy family.' In the outer court were drome- 

 daries, very fine black ostriches, and an eight-year-old 

 elephant ; passing into the inner court, we were introduced 

 to four little elephants, about two years old, so tame that 

 Mr. Cohen's child of the same age was allowed to play 

 with them ; various kinds of antelope were wandering 

 about at large, but the pet of the family was evidently 

 ' Sarah,' a young hyaena that allowed herself to be caught 

 when wanted, and in the meantime amused herself in 

 playfully chasing a gazelle amongst our seats, whilst the 



