DEPARTURE FROM KHARTOUM. 393 host could not say that we slighted his culinary skill, for verily there was nothing hut empty _ plates to he seen, when we arose from the table. Dr. Reitz and I hastened on board the nekker, which immediately put off. I left Khartoum, regretting to leave a few friends behind me in that furnace of Soudan, yet glad to escape therefrom myself. A type of the character Of the place was furnished us while making our way to Omdurnian. We passed the body of a woman, who had been strangled and thrown into the water ; a sight which the natives regarded without the least surprise. The Consul immediately dispatched one of his servants to the Governor of the city, asking him to have the body taken away and properly interred. It was full two hours before we reached the western bank of the Nile, opposite Omdurman. Achmet, who had preceded me, had drummed up the Kababish, and they were in readiness with my camels. The work of apportioning and loading the baggage was finished by noon, and the caravan started, preceded by the guide, Mohammed, who shook his long spear in a general defiance of all enemies.

Dr. Reitz and I, with our attendants, set off in advance on a quick trot. Our path led over a bleak, barren plain, cover ed with thorns, through which the wind whistled with a wintry sound. The air was filled with clouds of sand, which gave a pale and sickly cast to the sunshine. My friend was unwel; and desponding, and after we had ridden eight milefi, he halted to rest in a deep, rocky gully, where we were sheltered from the wind. Here we lay down upon the sand until the caravan came along, when we parted from each other. " You are going back to Europe and Civilization ; " said he mournfully ; "you have an encouraging future before you — while I can onlv 17*