w old traces of
habitation, it is true, but the people seemed to have been driven away or
killed, leaving only the empty stone-built houses. From the hill on the
side of which we pitched our camp a marvellous view was obtainable. To
the north a black forest extended as far as the eye could reach, broken
only by three small hills that served as landmarks. To the west rolled
some giant snow-capped mountains, while the range whereon we stood was a
low, stone-covered stretch of round-topped hills, flanked by thick mimosa
jungle and filled with rhinoceros. Wherever we went, we found traces of
them, their feeding ground being apparently restricted to a very small
area. Never having been hunted, they probably found no reason to leave
such excellent pasture, and it was little wonder that Kona and his men
were anxious to remain behind and commit havoc amongst them.

On the third day we encamped near a most extraordinary place. It was a
small valley about thirty-five feet below the surrounding ground, looking
like the dry bed of a stream, and was about a mile in circumference.

"Come, I want to show you Zomara's Wrath," Omar said, and dismounting we
went together towards it, notwithstanding the loud cries of warning that
arose on every side. A dog--a lean, hungry, strange-looking brute, who
accompanied the troops--bounded after us, and as we approached the place
I noticed a suffocating smell, and was attacked by nausea and giddiness.
A belt of this foetid atmosphere surrounded the valley. We, however,
passed through it, and in purer air, with hands still over my nose and
mouth, was permitted to view the awful spectacle--for it was awful.

The entire bed of the valley seemed like one solid rock, but scattered
over the barren floor were skeletons of men, wild hogs, deer, rhinoceros,
lions, and all kinds of birds and smaller animals. I could discover no
hole or crevice in any place whence the poisonous fumes were emitted. I
was anxious to reach the bottom of the valley, if possible, but my
suggestion was at once negatived by my companion, who said:

"To go further is certain death. Come, let us return quickly, or we may
be overpowered. This is one of the natural wonders of our land."

I determined, however, to see what the fumes smelled like, and, greatly
to Omar's horror, started to descend. The dog was with me, and as soon as
he saw me step over the side of the bank he rushed down ahead of me.

I endeavoured to call him back,