WE MOUNT OUR CAMELS FOR KOROSKO. 429 
us a house to live in during the heat of the day. "We 
were accordingly put into a dark inner room without 
a window, but it had a high verandah outside where 
we could sit during the day. We engaged thirty 
baggage-camels, at ninety piastres each, to carry us to 
Korosko ; the party consisted of twenty-six souls in 
all, and the spare camels were for carrying two guides 
and two loads of water for Speke and myself. Every 
other man had to carry his two water-bags on the 
camel he rode. We tried to get a pair of Hadjeens or 
riding camels, but failed — all were as rough as they 
could possibly be. The majority of our Seedees had 
never seen a camel before, and were somewhat afraid 
to mount ; however, once seated, their pleasure was 
excessive. All was good-humour aucl fun the first 
day's march to El Chore, where we arrived at sunset 
of the 27th April. El Chore, "the Lake," had no 
water at this season, but the Nile, which is within a 
quarter of a mile, overflows the grassy ground imme- 
diately below the few inhabited houses. The people- 
were civil in selling us milk, bringing us water, and 
giving us small cots to lie upon during the night. In 
the desert, amongst Egyptians, a traveller may always 
expect to be treated with civility. 
28th. — To-day we divided the march into two 
stages, making one in the morning to El Ab'idy, and 
the other to Gin ceneet a — the latter name as sounded 
by a native is peculiarly Italian. The journey occupied 
seven hours, generally over a hard road of gravel. 
Although never far from the river, we saw low hills 
upon the opposite bank, and travelled amongst tall 
grass, maclar, and palms. From this grass the people 
make a coarse description of rope. The nights were 
