BLUE NILE AND BINDER RIVER 



319 



These sequestered water-holes, stagnant and befouled, 

 represent for long months the sole resource of a thirsty 

 world whether human or feres natures. Upon them the 

 Arabs with their herds entirely depend ; in them camels and 

 cattle plunge and wallow, while womenfolk wash clothes 

 the livelong day. For drinking water, wells are dug 

 in the sand 50 yards below each pool ; but even so (and 

 after being filtered and boiled) the quality is distinctly 

 dubious. It is worth remark that the private ownership 

 of each such petty "well" is universally respected. No 

 one poaches his neighbour's water. 



GRIVETS RECONNOITRING. 



GRIVETS DRINKING. 



To us, of course, it was the "outbye " water-holes, those 

 far remote from human disturbance, that alone proved 

 attractive. Thither resorted thirsty crowds, and thereat 

 a sequence of pageants in wild-life continued both by day 

 and by night. Most of these pools lay beneath a high 

 impending bank and, by lying hidden amidst its labyrinth 

 of roots, we commanded the scene at close quarters. 

 Green grivet monkeys oft shared our retreat, quite 

 unconscious of our company though within arm's-length. 

 The air rustled with the coming and going of feathered 

 multitudes in ceaseless succession. Doves of different 

 kinds and in countless numbers dashed to and fro on 

 lightning wing; there were drongos, bush-chats, and 



