BACK AT FADIBEK. 253 



not only do the stiff stalks strike sharply as they rebound, but 

 they also rain down a constant shower-bath from their panicles. 

 I procured some ducks for the cooking-pot on the Lan- 

 guello hill, and also took a series of compass bearings of the 

 surrounding mountain peaks. We then proceeded to Khor 

 Bagger, which, though much swollen, could be crossed by 

 swimmiug ; but when we prepared to stay there for the night, 

 neither wood nor bamboo could be found for hutbuildinsf, and 

 so we had to continue our march until we reached the place 

 where we had stayed on the first night of our outward journey. 

 We arrived there in rather more than three hours, having thus 

 been marching for eight hours forty-five minutes altogether, 

 and at a rate exceeding two and a half miles an hour, whilst 

 on the outward journey the same distance took us ten hours. 

 We saw small troops of buffaloes on our way, and two extremely 

 large snakes — not pythons — which we did not succeed in 

 catching. The rain, which had been so excessive at Fajuli, 

 did not seem to have extended to this place, for the ground was 

 hard and dry. We had no view from Jebel Abayo, but that 

 is usually the case at midday, when the distant mountains 

 are veiled in mist. Having changed our porters, we kept 

 mainly to our old path, and reached our station at Fadibek, 

 where, however, we are only to have one day's rest. 



3. From Fadibek via Obbo to Labore. 



THE VILLAGE OF MADI — THE SO-CALLED MADI PEAK — IN THE FANYIQUARA 

 DISTRICT — ABUNDANCE OF STREAMS — THE FAGGAR-KEREFI ROAD. 



We followed the path we had traversed last year as far as 

 the village of Agoro, which is situated among picturesque 

 rocks and luxuriant verdure. Every now and then we saw the 

 peak of a high mountain due north, but no one could tell me 

 its name. It was said to be in the Bari country. The village 

 of Madi appeared even more neglected than last year, when it 

 was at least hedged round with a bamboo fence. The pre- 



