56 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. Chap. XXXIX. 
rain poured down, and about a dozen of my com- 
panions took refuge in my small, frail dwelling ; but 
all were not so fortunate as to escape a wetting, for 
the rain, being very heavy, came in at the door. The 
storm lasted more than an hour ; and everything, in- 
cluding horses and camels, being thoroughly soaked, 
it was decided to remain here for the night. 
Sunday -^ or some reason or another, but chiefly 
sept. 28th. j n or d er to slaughter the other ox, divide 
it, and cut it up into u gedid," we remained here the 
whole morning ; and the sun had long passed into za- 
wal (past noon) when we started through the sandy 
and slightly undulating country full of herbage, prin- 
cipally of the plant called " nesi," besides bu-rekkeba 
or Avena Forskalii, the bur-feathered prickle Penni- 
setum distichum, and various kinds of mimosa, chiefly 
consisting of the talha and um el barka (Mimosa 
Nilotica). Our companions found several ostrich- 
eggs, and met a large troop of gazelles. The country 
then became more thickly wooded, and, where we 
encamped for the night, presented a very interesting 
character ; but the danger from wild beasts was con- 
siderable, and the roar of a lion was heard throughout 
the greater part of the night. 
Monday Started early: the character of the coun- 
Sept. 29th. try continued the same as yesterday, and 
presented beautiful specimens of the mimosa, here 
breaking down from age, at another place interwoven 
with creepers, one species of which produces the red 
juicy fruit called " fito " by the Kaniiri, and has been 
