ALIA BAY 



125 



last long, for the beautiful picture soon resolved itself once 

 more into a barren desert. The trees only marked the edge 

 of broad debris- encumbered channels down which rapid streams 

 evidently poured in the rainy season, but which were now 

 completely dried up ; and the bush consisted of nothing but 

 thorn-studded umbrella acacias and the old familiar succulent 

 bush of the steppes. There was not a blade of grass anywhere. 

 The remains of kraals led us to suppose that this district had 

 been inhabited some years ago by nomad Burkeneji or Eandile. 



The bay we reached on this march is known as Alia, and, 

 according to Lembasso, is inhabited by the Elmolo of Eeshiat, 

 but we did not meet any natives or come upon any traces of 

 their presence. 



The lake here is from twenty-two to twenty-five miles 

 broad, and the western side is shut in by a low range of 

 hills. We made out two large islands, one on the south-west, 

 the other on the north-west, but we were still unable to see 

 the end of the lake. One little thing, however : the muddy 

 yellowish-green colour of the water led us to suppose that we 

 were not now far off our goal, the inhabited northern shore. 

 The beach was swampy and slimy, so that the animals could 

 scarcely be taken down to drink. 



There was a good deal of game in the neighbourhood, 

 including zebras, Beisa antelopes, and gazelles ; and we also 

 caught sight of herds of buffaloes ; but most of them disap- 

 peared soon after our arrival. During the march the Count 

 shot two gazelle Grantii with one charge, and I brought down 

 a zebra [Equus Burchelli) near the camp. Soon afterwards I 

 heard the firing of a heavy gun somewhere on the beach, and 

 found that the Count had come upon two male elephants, 

 which were trying to escape him. The hunt after them lasted 

 a good hour ; and they were finally despatched close to the 

 camp. We all lingered for some time by the dead animals. 



