SKETCHES IN THE SOUDAN 79 



there seemed no reason why they should be so tired, when 

 I also had walked the whole day and was ahle to proceed. 

 Eventually, ahout 11 p.m., we reached the running water, and 

 a weary tramp of over two miles through the deep, heavy 

 sand brought us to camp. On approaching it my escort hung 

 back, and refused to meet our Arabs. Wishing to surprise 

 you and the camp, I alone crawled quietly through the belt 

 of high rushes which separated it from the river-bed, but 

 what was my astonishment to see no fire and the camping- 

 ground entirely deserted ! Thinking that you might perhaps 

 have moved up a little higher, I fired some shots from my 

 revolver, but, as no answer was returned, I knew that our 

 wretched Arabs had forced you to retire to a greater distance 

 from the dreaded frontier. It was very annoying, for where 

 was the supper I had looked forward to all day? We had 

 no matches, but with the help of gunpowder and tinder a 

 fire was kindled; some flour, which we had luckily brought with 

 us, was worked into a paste with water, and then a round 

 stone previously heated in the fire enclosed in a very thick 

 layer of the dough, and the whole baked in the hot ashes. 

 We made our supper off this more or less digestible heavy 

 black bread, quenching our thirst with some honey-water, of 

 which these men are very fond. It is simply the rough 

 honey as taken from a tree mixed with water, and strained 

 if the means are at hand through muslin, or some part 

 of a cotton garment. After this frugal repast we laid our- 

 selves down close to the fire, and soon forgot our troubles 

 in sleep, one or more of the Dembelas, who seemed anything 

 but happy, keeping watch all night. This morning early I 

 started with Wasa down the river in search of the camp, 

 leaving my guide to keep the others company, to whom I 

 promised to return as soon as possible with presents and 

 food ; hardly had we got half a mile away when he came 

 running after us, afraid to trust himself alone among the 

 Dembelas. After an hour's rapid march I beheld, to my 

 great delight, your camp, and how I there enjoyed my well- 

 earned breakfast you know almost as well as I do." 



The traveller's tale ended we approached our old camp, and 

 presently saw one of the Dembelas watching us from behind 

 a bush, who, when satisfied as to our identity, shouted to 



