ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS. 
419 
other gentlemen of Khartoom, delayed our departure 
till the afternoon, when about a dozen of our kind 
friends came to bid us farewell. The advices we 
received as to crossing the desert were numerous, and 
I may here mention them for the benefit of future 
travellers : — Have a list of the stages by land and 
water, mentioning what supplies are procurable. 
Always sling a water-bag and bag of biscuit to the 
pommel of your saddle. Ali Bey recommended a 
thimbleful of rum in a good deal of water as the best 
thing to keep one awake, and prevent tumbling off 
the camel during night. Always take a sleep for a 
few hours from nine in the morning. Water is more 
requisite than food ; next to this, abrey (or dry unlea- 
vened bread) and hard biscuit are the best. See that 
your men do not steal your water, or the sailors your 
ropes. The camels, too, are apt, from thirst, to bite 
through the water-bags, which must be taken care of, 
and also covered during the night, to prevent the 
wind drying them up ; and always have something 
under them. We found all these advices excellent ; 
and I have nothing to add except that a " Hadjeen," 
or riding camel, is indispensable to comfort. 
