70 THE EXi'LOKATlON OF THE NRiEK Truth to tell, I had learnt from experience that the ardent temperaments of negroes forming the escorts of expeditions really often Jeopardized success, if their amours did not actually bring about failure. Of course I can't be sure that my orders, which t repeated later, were always strictly obeyed, but at all events I did a good deal to lessen the evil, I gave my joUy fellows three days to enjoy themselves in, and they took me at my word. Until half-past one on the 22nd I saw next to nothing of them on board, and when the time for starting arrived I had to send to hunt up our little Abdulaye Dem, who had quite