GORDON PASHA. 289 down to the duty of seeing that our live-stock was properly fed on the way. Advice drawn from a man of his wisdom and vast experience, given to us freely on precautions in travelling, on the manner of dealing with natives, indeed, on every subject, could not fail to be of the utmost value to travellers inexperienced as we were in all such matters. And not once only, but on many occasions have I had cause to be thankful for the few days I spent in company with one of the noblest men this century has yet produced.

By Colonel Gordon's orders there were provided for us . porters for our goods, and, whenever necessary, an escort of soldiers; and at each Egyptian Station houses were prepared for us. Our journey all through Egypt, from the day we landed at Suakim to the day we bade farewell to our escort at Mruli, did not cost the Missionary Society a penny.

"We left Khartoum on August 8 in the Safir, a larger steamer than the one from Berber ; there were a good number of passengers on board, and a large cargo. We arrived on August 23 at Fashoda, the chief town of the Shillook district ; we stopped there for a day, and it was at this place that I saw the first native dance. The commandant of the town, a captain, and a major came on board for us, and after we had put on our best helmets and dresses to make as imposing an impression as possible, we VOL. i. u