70 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



Unfortunately for them, however, we had been told of the 

 existence of some running water a little across the frontier ; so, 

 soon after the camp was established, G. and I had our horses 

 re- saddled and rode up one of the branches of the river to 

 explore. Sure enough, hardly had we gone half a mile when 

 the reeds on the river banks became green, tufts of grass and 

 herbs grew out of the sand which rapidly became moist and 

 moister until presently we came upon a stream slowly winding 

 its way between great granite boulders and high banks, every 

 patch of moist sand showing the fresh spoor of almost every 

 animal from the elephant down. It was a refreshing sight this 

 clear, cool water, and a most gratifying one, for here was the 

 promise of the best of sport. Very much disgusted the hunters 

 were to hear on our return that we had found the water, the 

 existence of which the scoundrels had denied although well 

 aware that we were close to it, for they knew now that we would 

 remain at least some days in a spot they so much dreaded. 



G-. was very anxious to have a look at these Dembelas inhabit- 

 ing the " terra incognita," and to judge of the sport likely to be 

 had in what, although marked a swamp in the maps, was in 

 reality a high mountainous country. This wish was quietly 

 communicated to an Abyssinian boy, Wasa, who had followed 

 us from Keren ; he took another man from the same place into 

 his confidence, a man who had formerly been a prisoner in the 

 Dembela country, who was supposed therefore to know the road, 

 but of whom our Arabs had become more and more suspicious 

 as we approached the frontier, calling him a traitor and bringing 

 forward all kinds of excuses to get him out of the camp. The 

 promised backsheesh soon smoothed all difficulties and the start 

 was fixed for the next day. 



The plan was kept very secret, G. giving out that he was 

 merely going out shooting as usual, though a little across the 

 frontier, knowing well that the hunters would in that case refuse 

 to accompany him, and nothing was thought of it at the time. 

 He left provided with a few presents, an Arabic dictionary, 

 tobacco, and the best wishes, I remaining behind to look after 

 the camp, where trouble commenced directly the men discovered 

 G.'s real errand. Instead of about one at the most he was away 

 over four days, and his prolonged absence made me very anxious, 

 for stories of the savage Dembelas, the certainty of his having 



