4 
ARM PE AT BERBER . 
[chap. i. 
rious waters with a firm resolve to track them to their 
distant fountain. 
On arrival at Korosko in lat. 22° 44' in twenty-six 
days from Cairo we started across the Nubian desert, 
thus cutting off the western bend of the Nile, and in 
seven days’ forced camel march we again reached the 
river at Abou HamecL The journey through that desert 
is most fatiguing, as the march averages fifteen hours 
a day through a wilderness of scorching sand and 
glowing basalt rocks. The simoom was in full force 
at that season (May), and the thermometer, placed in 
the shade by the water skins, stood at 114° Fahr. 
No drinkable water was procurable on the route: 
thus our supply was nearly expended upon reaching 
the welcome Nile. After eight days’ march on the 
margin of the river from Aboil Hamed through desert, 
but in view of the palm trees that bordered the 
river, we arrived at Berber, a considerable town in 
lat. 17° 58' on the banks of the Nile. 
Berber is eight days’ camel march from Khartoum 
(at the junction of the White and Blue Niles, in lat. 
15° 30), and is the regular caravan route between 
that town and Cairo. 
From the slight experience I had gained in the 
journey to Berber, I felt convinced that success in my 
Nile expedition would be impossible without a know- 
