52 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
and were direct from Khartoum. They reported how anxiously we 
were expected at that place and at Berber. The high Nile was 
everywhere causing great damage^ they said. 
Friday, 27 th . — Two hours before sunrise (the moon still favour- 
able) we broke up. The ‘‘ Moor of the Donkey was crossed before 
eight o^clock_, and we arrived again at the river. Soon after the 
morning’s march began^ we remarked one of the camel-men running 
like an antelope past us. Asking the guide what this was for, he 
said, He goes to his wife, who lives on an island far from here ; 
when he gets to the river he will swim across, and when we are 
opposite that place we shall find him waiting for us.” And so it 
was : we came up to him — he was dressed in a snow-white wrapper 
carelessly draped round him, and the dingy garment previously 
worn was discarded. We asked if he found all well at his home. 
Yes, God be praised,” he replied. Here the country was very 
lovely : magnificent trees, fine rocks, the land cultivated, cattle 
herding ; and all, with the glorious Nile, formed a delightful picture = 
We soon passed from that fertile scene to cross another barren 
moor, Akab’t il Yascint, or the Moor of the Hippopotamus,” so 
called from one of these animals having strayed from the river, and, 
losing its way, was found far inland by the Arabs. The march was 
a long and trying one — no halt for ten hours. As we ascended the 
highest part of the moor, the men sang lustily, saying the village 
was near where we ought to rest ; so on we went, but it was a weary 
time ere we reached that haven. Bivouacked in the neighbourhood 
of the village, near some splendid dom palms, and remained there 
for the night. 
Saturday, — Started again long before sunrise. The Doctor’s 
