WATER FROM A NEW SKIN. 229 



brought a new one, which they no doubt thought was in 

 perfect order, but owing to the materials with which it 

 had been tanned and otherwise prepared, it imparted 

 such a very unpleasant odour and taste to the water, that 

 even when almost parched with thirst it was with great 

 difficulty we could gulp it down. Most of us suffered 

 more or less from thirst for a time after our arrival in 

 this country, and found the water-bottle slung over our 

 shoulders an indispensable companion. This has long 

 since ceased to be the case, and we are able to abstain 

 from drinking anything till luncheon-time with perfect 

 comfort. Once, however, tea, or more especially water, 

 has touched our lips, then for the rest of the day the 

 water-bottle has to be in frequent requisition, if only to 

 moisten the throat and tongue. During our absence, 

 according to order, though with the most determined 

 opposition on the part of the camel-men, our camp has 

 been moved two miles farther up the Settite, to a bank 

 a little raised above the river, named Hel-Egheeme. 

 Essafi, senior, has been in a wild state of excitement 

 since his arrival here, brought on by thoughts of his 

 proximity to the Base, who killed one of his sons, and, 

 dancing about last evening whilst waving a sword over 

 his head, he was heard shouting for them to come on 

 that he might kill them ; and in fact he worked himself 

 into such a state of frenzy that Albert began to fear, 

 for want of a Base, he would fall foul of a friend. Re- 



