There is a little
hasheesh (grass), with two or three young tholukh-trees. Venus shone
with uncommon splendour this evening, eclipsing all the majesty of
Jupiter. We are looking out for the Southern Cross, and think we see it
just emerging above the horizon ahead. In the day, the heavens have of
late been hazy.
They tell us, that on leaving Ghat we shall _descend_ to Soudan; yet we
can not have reached very high ground. We may soon likewise expect to
feel the influence of the Soudan rains, and find the atmosphere much
cooler in consequence. How the days are shortening now, and how grateful
darkness gradually expands its dominions over this arid, scorching
waste, as we move south!
On Friday the 5th we only advanced two hours, to a place called
Talazaghee,--a small picturesque wady, where, during the season of rain,
there are always two or three pools of good water; there is also now a
little herbage for the camels. During our ride we met a small slave
caravan, and learned the important intelligence that there are several
people of the Sultan En-Noor of Aheer at present at Ghat with slaves.
This will be useful to us. I wrote to my wife and others by this
opportunity, and trust the missives will reach their destination. The
weather is cool and pleasant to-day; and we are led to hope that the
great heat of summer is already past. The wind followed exactly behind
us as we pursued our south-west course.
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