72 AFBICAN WANDEEINGS.

to France, returning with soldier-like punctuality at the expiry of his year's leave, in company of his noble-minded wife, who was to serve him as a companion and stay during his old age. But that no very high age will be his, is visible in his premature decay, and continued ailings, nor is the unhealthy climate of Kordofan in his favour, to which land, and to his ruin, his love of gold has again decoyed him ; and his stay, who is far more ill and crazy than himself, is also sinking under the load of cotton wherewith she burdens herself to supply those beauties of form nature has denied her. Churschid Pascha, the predecessor of Achmet, had brought with him from Cairo a carriage, in pieces, so as to pack on camels' backs, the ruins of which Achmet made a present of to Vigoureux, who, aided by a carpenter, converted them into a cabriolet. Into this he stuck his riding-horse, and, aided by two slaves who led it, drove in great state past our house in Chartum. He drank a glass of rum we offered him, and congratulated himself on the numbers who had admired him and his turnout. Soon after, however, one of our servants informed us that the wheel had passed over one of his slaves, and broke the man's upper thigh bone, forcing it through the flesh. Vigoureux himself said he had expected something of the kind, and tliat the dog might die, as he had already paid too much for him. My brother promised to cure the slave for nothing, if he would give him his liberty. He was healed and suppoi'ted all along and for a time after the cure at our expense ; all at once, however, he vanished, and it was only some time after we learned that Monsieur the Corporal, in spite of all his promises, had laid hands on him and packed him off to Kordofan, to work in his garden.

Between this man and his wife existed a singular unanimity of feelings. Both were alike miserly, which was plainly enough written on their faces, and when at home kept most wretched commons. Both, too, gladly accepted any invitation, and in real gormandizing style devoured all food set before them. Neither ever thought it necessary to offer any return, but excused themselves under the plea of having no cook ; but this would not go down with ourselves and others. But too much of persons of whom we know not one good trait, and who will find no pity from any one when the punishment justly due to their barbarity and fearful