EFFECT OF MIRAGE. 319 



English of all this, it must be understood, was pan- 

 tomimic; and a pretty good idea may be drawn 

 from this little scene, of the manner in which con- 

 versations were carried on, between me and some of 

 my companions. 



May 3d. — Long before sunrise this morning, I 

 was awoke by the hoarse voice of Ohmed Mahomed, 

 as he stood upon one of the boxes, giving the usual 

 loud cry, as a signal for starting. For some reason 

 or other, it had been arranged that the Hy Sou- 

 maulee and myself, instead of preceding the Kafllah, 

 as had been customary, should now remain until 

 the very last camel had moved off the ground. 

 Ohmed Mahomed was, perhaps, not quite sure, but 

 that we might give him the slip, and push on for 

 Shoa, without waiting for him. 



After I had booted and belted, I retired to a large 

 stone with my carbine in my hand, where I sat 

 until the camels were all loaded, and, one after the 

 other, in detached strings of six or eight, led by a 

 slave, the long rope halter thrown over one shoulder, 

 and his spear on the other, were stalking solemnly 

 along the winding path among the clumps of 

 trees, which now hid them for a moment or two 

 from the view, and between which they then again 

 appeared, until lost altogether to sight among the 

 distant foliage. 



Whilst I was sitting, I had an opportunity of 

 observing a singular effect of mirage upon the summit 

 of a long low ridge, that formed one of the sides of the 



