240 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



from above the knee to an occasional plunge to the 

 waist or higher. When feel : ng fresh in the morning 

 there is no cause to find fault with the performance, for 

 it is then rather pleasant than otherwise, and the sun 

 very soon dries the wet clothes ; but in returning home 

 after a long day on foot in the scorching sun, when we 

 are more or less fatigued, the water strikes very cold, 

 especially if it reaches the waist, and it requires a brisk 

 walk to restore the circulation properly. Sometimes I 

 have been almost surprised at no ill effect being pro- 

 duced by it, but nothing seems able to disturb our rest 

 or our digestion. 



March 21. Last night, just before we were going to 

 bed, an Arab told us that a herd of buffaloes were 

 drinking a short distance above our camp, and dressed 

 as we were we started off after them ; Vivian in shirt- 

 sleeves, pajamas and slippers, and myself in a thin 

 dressing suit. The moon, partially obscured by clouds, 

 only gave us sufficient light to allow us to distinguish 

 an immense black mass, until we crept up to within 

 perhaps thirty or forty yards of them, when we could 

 make out a general outline of the nearest, and into these 

 we fired our four barrels. Never could buffaloes have 

 been more startled from their peaceful occupations than 

 were these, on seeing such volumes of fire suddenly 

 bursting upon them ; and, leaving two wounded com- 

 panions behind, they tore along the bank in headlong 



