IN THE LAKE ABHIBHAD. 199 



My desire to visit the very shores of the lake, the 

 waters of which were concealed by the foliage of 

 a dense forest of mimosa-trees, was, therefore, 

 increased by this opportunity of being able to add 

 a new fact to our geographical knowledge. 



I had but eighty dollars remaining, of the one 

 hundred allowed me by the Government, for the 

 expenses of the Kanlah on the road, and as I had 

 not performed one third of the journey, I could 

 with prudence, offer only the sum of twenty-five 

 dollars, to Lohitu and Ohmed Medina for an escort, 

 to traverse the short distance intervening between 

 the camp and the lake. The latter certainly 

 exerted himself to procure volunteers among the 

 Debenee who visited us, but after their chief had 

 refused, not one would undertake even the office of 

 guide ; for I insisted that I would go alone, if a 

 guard could not be procured. Many of the Ta- 

 jourah people now came around me, intreating me 

 not to attempt such a thing, as my death would be 

 the certain consequence, and that ever after 

 " their faces would be blackened with the com- 

 mander in Aden," meaning Captain Haines, so 

 that in the end I was obliged to submit, for 

 I saw that I could not help myself. It ap- 

 pears the tract of rich alluvial soil in this 

 situation, being well watered by its con- 

 tiguity to the lakes, is covered with vegetation 

 during the whole year, and is always held by the 

 strongest tribe; for sometimes, from the necessity 



