Chap. XLI. 
VALES OF SHITA'TI. 
107 
tree, while Shiri and the neighbourhood of Mawo is 
very productive in date-trees. Part of the bottom 
was laid out in corn-fields, irrigated from Khattatir, 
near which some huts were standing, while a larger 
village, at present deserted, is situated on the brow 
of the slope dominating the valley. It is called 
Burka-driisso, or Burka-dnisto. Here we enjoyed a 
few hours of tranquil repose ; but with the exception 
of this our enjoyment was very scanty, having nothing 
to breakfast upon but a handful of dates and some 
water. But our material wants were inconsiderable 
in comparison with the disappointment which we felt, 
as we clearly saw that all hope of reaching the Bahar 
el Ghazal, or even Mawo, was to be given up, and the 
hope of attaining those districts had been the only 
reason which had induced us to join our fate with 
this band of freebooters. We had spent all the pro- 
perty that remained to us to enable us to undertake this 
expedition, and our reflections therefore were far from 
pleasant. 
When the heat of the day had passed by, the Arabs 
pursued their march, and we followed them, re- 
ascending the higher level and marching over a plea- 
sant country well adorned with trees and bushes, 
while we left a hollow called Nukko on our left, one 
of the three vales of Shitati which bear this name, 
and further on crossing another one called Arnanko. 
When night approached, our companions began to 
put their horses into a gallop in order to arrive be- 
times, while we preferred going on more slowly. 
