Wherever the sources of the Nile might be, the Atbara was the parent of Egypt! This was my first impression, to be proved hereafter.
A violent thunderstorm, with a deluge of rain, broke upon our camp on the banks of the Atbara, fortunately just after the tents were pitched.
We thus had an example of the extraordinary effects of the heavy rain in tearing away the soil of the valley.

Trifling watercourses were swollen to torrents.

Banks of earth became loosened and fell in, and the rush of mud and water upon all sides swept forward into the river with a rapidity which threatened the destruction of the country, could such a tempest endure for a few days.

In a couple of hours all was over.
In the evening we crossed with our baggage and people to the opposite side of the ricer, and pitched our tents at the village of Goorashee.
In the morning the camels arrived, and once more we were ready to start.
Our factotum, El Baggar, had collected a number of baggage-camels and riding dromedaries, or "hygeens".

The latter he had brought for approval, as we bad suffered much from the extreme roughness of our late camels.