PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. 15"

descended, and so swallowed it, as nature had only bestowed on him

an apology for a tongue (this performance especially delighted

his Highness of Wurtemberg), but who did not, however, despise

frogs or lizards, and every morning at daybreak aroused us by

his cry of "Hum! Hum!" till we replied to it by "Hans;"

also two king-cranes (Gornu, grue royale, Grus Pavonia L.\ a

snake-devouring secretary, with handsome eagle's head, long tail, and heron-like legs ; curious wild ducks, geese, and other much

prized birds, some having been shot unable to fly, but others were

perfectly cured of their wounds by my brother, who was most dex-

terous with his pincers, extracting with them the shot pellets, and

not seldom making a perfect cure. Under these circumstances,

equally pleasant and flattering was the visit of the Chasnadar, who came with the Princess's request that our birds might be confided

to her care during our absence. Many a time before now had this

lady, with her female slaves and eunuchs, been in our garden,—at

such times, as a matter of course, we had to retire into our inner- most apartment, — to visit our plants and flowers, that reminded

her of Cairo ; and much did it please her when requested to pluck

or take with her such as pleased her, as the Pascha's great garden produced nothing equal to them, no attempts having been made there

to raise flowers from seeds, and all I had having been grown from

seed I had brought with me from Cairo. In this way she knew of

our beasts and birds, and felt that they might help her to pass her

time, as she, a well-informed woman, suffered much from the fear-

ful ennui of comfortless Chartum, and even advised my brother to

leave it, and go with letters of recommendation, and also her pe-

titions to her father, Mahomed Ali, at Cairo, she not daring to

place so dangerous a trust in any one else, for she did not live on

the best footing with the obstinate head-strong Pascha. When

the Treasurer asked how the bird with the horn was called, I

answered, Abdallah Effendi, and this was the name of the Vakul

or deputy of tlie Pascha, a good-humoured Turk, with a splendid

nose, but a mere tool of his master's. As our pet Hans now went

to the harem under the name of Abdallah Efft^ndi, it became a

habit at the Treasurer's divan, Avhcn any one asked where Ab-

dallah Effendi was, to reply, "Hue fi Cliarim belal Effendi," which might be taken either in jest or earnest by the asker.