vm 



SKETCHES IN THE SOUDAN (continued) 

 V. A TBIP INTO " TERRA INCOGNITA " 



SORELY against the wishes of our cowardly hunters we had 

 now arrived on the threshold of " the unknown," at least 

 what was marked "terra incognita " on the maps, and on an 

 open piece of ground close to the river immediately helow its 

 bifurcation we had made our camp. A dense fringe of high reeds, 

 now dry and yellow, separated us from the sandy river-bed, 

 while a high, steep bank closed in the ground on the other side. 

 Shrubs of many kinds, mimosa and acacia bushes, dome-palms, 

 and baobab-trees grew luxuriantly everywhere, and altogether it 

 was a very snug and comfortable camp, although the want of 

 space somewhat crowded us together, for we numbered 14 men, 

 8 camels (2 hired), 9 horses, the mule, and 3 goats. The latter 

 had followed our fortunes everywhere, and never failed to supply 

 us morning and evening with most excellent milk. 



Everything the six hunters and trackers could do or say to 

 prevent our going to this Dembela frontier they had done and 

 said, but when their prophecies that we should have our camp 

 robbed, and all be murdered or both, by the savage tribes, that 

 our horses would die from the stings of some fly, which existed only 

 in their imagination, were disregarded and laughed at, and they 

 saw that we were determined, rather than lose their pay the men 

 at last put their trust in fate and came on, but most unwillingly. 

 When finally we had got to our destination they absolutely 

 refused to cross the frontier, constantly assuring us that there 

 was certainly nothing to shoot, that they knew of a glorious 

 country further back, that there was no water here for animals 

 to drink at, &c., &c., &c. 



