BLUE NILE AND BINDER RIVER 
319 
These sequestered water-holes, stagnant and befouled, 
represent for long months the sole resource of a thirsty 
world—whether human or fercz naturcz. Upon them the 
Arabs with their herds entirely depend; in them camels and 
cattle plunge and wallow, while womenfolk wash clothes 
the livelong day. For drinking water, wells are dug 
in the sand 50 yards below each pool; but even so (and 
after being filtered and boiled) the quality is distinctly 
dubious. It is worth remark that the private ownership 
of each such petty “well” is universally respected. No 
one poaches his neighbour’s water. 
Grivets Reconnoitring. Grivets Drinking. 
To us, of course, it was the “ outbye ” water-holes, those 
far remote from human disturbance, that alone proved 
attractive. Thither resorted thirsty crowds, and thereat 
a sequence of pageants in wild-life continued both by day 
and by night. Most of these pools lay beneath a high 
impending bank and, by lying hidden amidst its labyrinth 
of roots, we commanded the scene at close quarters. 
Green grivet monkeys oft shared our retreat, quite 
unconscious of our company though within arm’s-length. 
The air rustled with the coming and going of feathered 
multitudes in ceaseless succession. Doves of different 
kinds and in countless numbers dashed to and fro on 
lightning wing; there were drongos, bush-chats, and 
