30 PERSONAL NARRATIFE. 



examine them. Inquiry from the Shohos was not satis- 

 factory, especially when conducted, as in the present 

 instance, through the medium of an Arab interpreter, 

 who spoke very little Hindustani, and an old Shoho 

 woman, who understood still less Arabic. However, 

 having procured a guide, Le Mesurier and I started to 

 explore the Undul valley, taking with us a smaU tent 

 and a day's provisions on mules. 



We had a most delightful and profitable ride, although 

 the quantity of water found was small. For about six 

 or eight miles we found a Vv'ell-marked cattle-track 

 leading up the torrent bed, at the sides of which were 

 small flats, covered with fine acacia trees. Gradually 

 the valley contracted, and the hills at the sides became 

 higher, and in many places covered with huge tufts of 

 coarse grass. At first these Avere all at a considerable 

 elevation above our path, but we soon ascended to their 

 level. The quantity was large, and the discovery — for it 

 was a discovery— most important, since all forage had 

 hitherto been brought from the seaboard, employing 

 many mules, and, in fact, taking up a very large pro- 

 portion of the carriage required for transporting pro- 

 visions and stores to the highlands.^ The erass was 

 coarse, but the mules, and even the horses, ate it; and 

 soon afterwards arrangements were made by Sir Eobert 



1 Although the mules were, at this time, very poorly fed, it was calculated 

 that in going from the camp at ZuUa to Senaf^ and back they consumed more 

 than half their load. I pointed out the grass in the Undul valley to Lieut. 

 Sturt, of the Transport Train, who brought it to the notice of the Commander- 

 in-chief, and was placed in charge of the arrangements for collecting it by 

 means of Shoho.'s. 



