54 JOURNEY TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

out from the shipping of Boulak, and were slowly working up the Nile before a light wind, while our boatmen thumped the tarahooha, and sang their wild Arab songs of departure. The rai's came up to know whether he had not fulfilled his contract, and Achmet with a cheerful face, turned to me and said : ' Praised be Allah, master ! we shall have a lucky journey."