8 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

sign of tlianks for the honour conferred, by placing the hand on

the breast. After some business was despatched, the Basclia dis-

missed all his attendants by a wave of the hand, and turning to me, said with a most dark and lowering face, " I have had letters

first Darfur, and now Taka, will pay no tribute, nor have they done so since Churschid Pascha was in the Chaaba (the forests where he was defeated) ; and so nothing comes in to the chasne

(public purse). I need money, much money,— want it most badly. So come along with me, and on tlie journey we all will recover our healths (he had also been ill of fever) ; yonder there are wood?, and waters, and many high hills, as in Germany and Circassia." On my showing my pleasure at his proposal, he went on more

cheerfully, and told me, that as soon as he had brought Taka back to its duty, he would open the gate of Habesch, and then

that of Darfur, and thus again restore the old trading communi-

cation, and compel the caravans to pass through Bellad-Sudan. When I remarked to him that the English cabinet had announced, by an energetic note to Mahomed Ali, that it would at once de-

clare war against him, and lay siege to Alexandria, if he en-

croached on the limits of Abyssinia, he smiled, and said in most meaning tones, that Egypt was far off, and he was not likely to

see it again. 'Twas true he had been minister of war there (Divan Gehadie), and plenty of trouble he had had as such ; but

that he was now exiled to Bellad-Sudan, and it was his country, where he, as Egyptian general and judge (Miraloa), vrould follow

liis own will : as for the English, he was no friend to them, nor would be to those who had been such bitter foes to Napoleon ; and

iie rather fancied he could conquer all Habesch ere an enemy's

ship showed itself; then he would be in a position to make con-

ditions, and I should be his envoy, &c.

My brother was again ill, desponding, and spoke of quitting the

country ; but he smiled more cheerfully as I produced the map, and spreading it before hira. requested him to place his finger on the spot where I should found for him a dukedom, or at least a countship, during tlie expedition of the Crescent, or anti-Cru-

sade. We again discussed a former plan of ours of going to

Bagdad, where Joseph was to set up as a ])hysician, and I, nolens

rolens, qualify myself as apothecarj', there to win heathen gold