During the night something incredible happened

February
1927

Again a descent began, into the canyon of the Takkaze (Tekezé) river, flowing not far from the Eritrean border. This is a deep river with gently sloping banks supporting a vegetation of wild, small-fruited castor-bean plants. Just like the Nile, the Takkaze is full of crocodiles. We stopped to camp overnight on a sandy beach, where we erected the tents. During the night something incredible happened. The guide had fallen asleep; I was writing the diary in the light of a small lantern. After a short while the entire floor of the tent began to stir, becoming covered by a large number of enormous, black, venomous spiders and scorpions. The guide, roused from his sleep, screamed to high heaven. The spiders had gotten into the beds with their ‘fangs’ bared. We jumped out of the tent, some people already bitten. It was necessary to flee this dangerous place. But crossing the ford at night was even more dangerous: we had to wait until dawn. However, it was also necessary to find a way out of the danger. It was evident that the spiders and scorpions had been attracted to the light. To extinguish the light meant to leave a considerable number of the uninvited guests in the tent. I suggested that the lamp be moved outside. The effect did not wait for itself; immediately, a mass exodus of spiders and scorpions began. The light of the lantern was narrowed to a slit and a literal drill began. The spiders and scorpions formed ranks along the light beam and gradually a straight, living line appeared, although some lingered behind. To deal with the stragglers the lantern was brought back into the tent, where all the remaining spiders and scorpions gathered in the narrow strip of light. Carefully and slowly the lamp was again carried out, drawing the rear-guard out of the tent, where the lantern was left in the open. Thus, the tent was freed from the pests and it was possible to sleep calmly.

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