THE OLD SOLDIER'S DONKEY. 165 



how he managed to get here it is difficult to imagine. 

 Now his career is likely to be brought suddenly to an 

 end from an unexpected cause, Ibrahim wanting him to 

 be shot, as he eats twice as much dhurra as the other 

 horses, so the lions' prospects of having a turn at him 

 are looking up again. Our two pools are full of small 

 fish, and some of our men have amused themselves most 

 of the day in catching them by the simple process of 

 wading and feeling for them. No game seen to-day, 

 excepting a leopard which sprang across Vivian's path, 

 and was instantly lost in the long grass. Now that the 

 old soldier has lost his chief amusement of fishing, all 

 his thoughts are turned to his donkey, that he calls 

 Jarrone,' and often he can be heard holding long con- 

 versations with him as he grazes quietly along the bank, 

 and 'Jarrone gives practical proof of understanding his 

 master, for he will always come to him when called, 

 walking or trotting, according to order ; and if eating 

 and sleeping are the ways, in a donkey's opinion, to enjoy 

 life, then Jarrone must indeed be happy. 



Feb. 22. Vivian and Mohamed have ridden over a 

 great extent of country skirting the Abyssinian hills, with- 

 out seeing any game, and for several hours Essafi and 

 myself did the same ; but as we were returning home 

 and riding along the bed of the Royan, Essafi, on turn- 

 ing a corner, pulled up short, and whispered ' daabee.' 

 Dismounting quietly, I was most fortunate in being able 



