MRULI. 39 Nile, and had to be avenged. The offenders were severely punished, and eight hundred head of cattle had been taken from them, so that food was abundant now. The station had also been threatened by Kabrega, and the old stockade not being as strong as was desirable, Farag Aga, the commander of the soldiers, was busily engaged in constructing a substantial earthwork. This Farag Aga Ajok is the young soldier whom Sir Samuel Baker was going to shoot at Tewfikiah, and of whom he makes frequent mention in ' Ismailia.' He is a thorough soldier, and a very good fellow, and I became much attached to him. He told me many tales of Sir Samuel and Lady Baker, for whom he has a great respect.

The Waganda only stayed one day to rest, and to try to sell their cattle. In this latter endeavour they did not meet with much success, to their great mortification. They were greatly disgusted, and attributed their ill-luck to me. I cannot say I was much grieved. I told them that if they had not stolen the cows which the king had sent for my use, they might, perhaps, have been more successful in their marketing. This did not console them ; they said they were quite ready now to accept the red-caps which I had offered for my own cattle when on the march. I calmly but firmly declined to give them anything of the sort; they departed, unsuccessful and hardly happy.