THE VALLEY OF THE HAM. 
245 
under the welcome shade of a cluster of trees growing in the open 
crevices of the hare sandstone rock^ which here and there contained 
a few welcome pools of clear water. An anticipated lunch of a 
goat^ that our men had provided us with^ was disagreeably inter- 
cepted by a threatening storm^ and prior to reaching the village 
in fronts it broke over us angrily : we got a thorough drenching. 
Like most tropical rains^ although violent it was but temporary; 
and proceedings we soon entered luxuriant clusters of canes and 
graceful delaeb palms^ thence into corn-fields. By this time the 
sun again shone forth brilliantly,, and dryings as it did^ our wetted 
gear^ the good spirits of our motley party again revived. The 
appearance of the negro porters after their wetting resembled 
polished ebony ^ and glowing in the sunshine^ they also stepped out 
with renewed vigour^ heightened probably by the prospect of 
approaching comfortable quarters and a temporary rest. 
In open spaces some carefully-constructed trellis-work of canes, 
twelve feet high and fifty to sixty feet long^ supported innumerable 
clusters of the seezam plants with the seeds suspended downwards^ 
in order to dry it before carrying home. 
At three p.m. the settlement or village of Afwal (called after its 
chief) was reached. Ibrahim^ Ponceks man^ who had preceded 
us,, was quartered here ; so we moved farther on^ and ten minutes 
more brought us to the huts of AfwaFs brother^ Magwai^ where 
we, found our advanced party. Our men encamped in the huts 
of the natives^ vacated for them within a fence some twelve feet 
high. It was composed of remarkably neat wickerwork made of 
split canesj supported on the inside by perpendicular posts four 
feet apart. This trellis was arranged in a circle,, and had one 
large entrance and eight smaller ones,, the latter two feet six 
inches in height by two feet wide. It contained a double aud 
