66 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

certain,— that the hopes raised in all Europe as to the results of this expedition will be as little satisfied, as science or knowledge will be advanced by it.* Mohammed Din has again visited the camp, and the Pascha has announced to him, that he must remain a hostage here till the tribute is paid, and probably also to answer for the lives of the thirtysoldiers sent into his country. However, it seems to have occurred to the Pascha, that it was more tlian probable that the great Sheik's absence from his own tribe might cause matters to go totally wrong, as he has again dismissed him to his people ; but, as hostage in his stead, his only son Mussa has been placed under Mohammed Defalla's care and guard.

We have now, in the early mornings, a good many clouds (Nedde), and tolerably cool air. At night the breeze is actually cold. The soldiers suffer much on night guards from this, as also from their bad food, Avhich for long has been nothing but Belila.

That the white soldiers from Syria and Egypt hold out far better against fatigues and heat than the blacks, is remarkable, as these latter should be far more accustomed and used to the heat.

The medical lessons and occupations of my brother have begun to attract much of my attention, and he has promised to keep a medical journal ; but he must first get himself well, as he ever returns from his medical duties perfectly disgusted, complaining of the insufferable stench arising from the patients, and, worn out, falls back in perfect apathy on his cushions, with sunken head ; sleeps with his eyes open, — often seeming to me as if something unnatural had come over him. So gets on my Joseph as doctor!

Later, when I had joined the expedition up the "White Nile, he wrote me from the camp of Kassela-el-Lus to Chartum, that he had compiled a stout volume on African diseases, but was inconsolable at having lost all his labours. Ten days' dangerous illness., during which he sadly missed me, had rendered him delirious; * Althougli tliis short description of Mens. Thibaiit is merely truth, find nothing but tnith, even to his having been a gamin of Paris, still, after having journeyed with him on the White Nile, when he admitted that we had known csich other in Greece in 1822-23, I sec, from the style of it, that the warm climate calls forth u ])assionatcncss that one can hardly explain on calmer consideration; but even for tliis psychological fact, I give my joiu-iial word for word.