The evening grew late, and Hateetah came to me, in a very nervous state,
to inquire after the Germans. I endeavoured to compose him by telling
him the responsibility was on us, and not on him. Dr. Overweg returned
at midnight. He had thrown into the desert various pieces of paper, on
which was written the direction of our encampment from the Kasar. We
were very uneasy, and slept little, as may be imagined; but before we
retired for the night Hateetah arranged a general search for the
morning.

Next morning, accordingly, at daybreak (16th), the search was commenced,
by two camels scouring the environs of the desert. Dr. Overweg went with
one of the parties, but returned at noon, bringing no news of Dr. Barth.
Amankee with his party had, however, seen his footsteps towards the
north. This was most important, as it directed our attention that way,
and we thought no more of his having gone to Ghât. We now calculated
that our companion had been twenty-four hours without a drop of water, a
gale of hot wind blowing all the time! Dr. Overweg proposed to me that
we should offer a considerable reward, as the last effort. He mentioned
twenty, but I increased the sum to fifty dollars. This set them all to
work, and a Tuarick with a maharee volunteered to search. I found it
necessary, however, to give him two dollars for going, besides the
proffered reward; he left at two P.M., and all the people were sent off
by Hateetah a couple of hours after him.

This was a dreadfully exciting day. I confess, that as the afternoon
wore on I had given up nearly all hope, and continued the search merely
as a matter of duty. Few will be able to imagine the anguish of losing a
friend under such circumstances in the wide desert, where you may for
ever remain uncertain how he came by his death, whether by the spear of