LEAVE KORANHEDUDAH. 253 



A geographical discussion on the situation of 

 Hurrah and Abasha concluded the day, and after 

 superintending the cooking of one of the guinea- 

 fowls, I turned into my hut, for supper and then to 

 bed. Thunder, lightning, and rain seemed to pro- 

 mise an uncomfortable night, but after a short heavy 

 shower, I was agreeably disappointed by its clearing 

 up and continuing fine for the rest of the night. 



April 23d. — Left Koranhecludah, or " the Plain 

 of Ravens," by sunrise, our march continuing along 

 the banks of a small river flowing towards the south- 

 east into the new lake of Doweleeka. A day or two 

 before I had been told, as something peculiar, that 

 we should cross such a water-course. It appeared 

 to be a permanently-running water, for the trees on 

 either bank were of an unusual size, and some of 

 them of a novel character, but I had no opportunity 

 of examining them closely. Having forded the 

 stream where it flowed over a broad surface of ra- 

 ther large stones, some of which were not covered by 

 the water, we entered an extensive plain, abounding 

 with a rank coarse grass, amidst the tufts of which 

 we travelled for nearly three hours, passing a 

 deserted kraal, with numerous broken stone en- 

 closures for folding the young of the flock. 

 Numerous kairns were also visible. It was very 

 evident that at some seasons this plain was a 

 favourite resort of the Bedouins, and, in fact, 

 after another hour's march, during which we crossed 

 two or three narrow brooks, we came suddenly 



