36 
TEAYELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
told US Petherick^s men had been most kind to him : he was short 
of heads,, and they supplied him with a sufficient quantity to carry 
him on to Khartoum. He said, had it not been for those men he 
must have starved, as money was of no value to the natives. 
We made some pretty geological specimens, and collected diffe- 
rent grasses. At night the cart (taken to pieces) and the abandoned 
loads were brought safely into camp. A start was then arranged 
to take place on the following morning. No views, greatly to our 
regret, had been taken, as Hr. Murie said some important chemicals 
were in the abandoned boxes; hut no more%time could he afforded. 
Saturday j \Mh, —The start was long delayed, as so many things 
had to he repacked ; hut at ten o^clock we were off. The hawk 
died. At twelve o^ clock bivouacked in a charming place, the Wadi 
Hellach. Magnificent dom palm trees flourished here : they ex- 
tended in a line as far as the eye could reach from N.E. to S.W. 
Many specimens of plants were collected here, and it was reluctantly 
we left, about three in the afternoon. We were now literally passing 
through the garden of the desert. The scenery was varied in the 
extreme. We saw the mirage ; and though prepared for its de- 
ception, I could hardly realize that it was not water, so faithfully 
were trees and mountains reflected. Most of the camels and horses 
were in advance — they appeared wading ; and my Luxor I ex- 
pected to see every moment kicking up his heels, as he always 
refused to enter water. 
We pushed gallantly on, and a short time before nine o^clock 
reached the wells of Murrat. During the preparations for supper 
we led the horses to the wells, followed by that wonderful sheep 
Pluck. How soon animals know those who are kind to them ! 
These beasts would come with or without a bidding to us. Often 
