1 88 Seven Years in the Soudan.

at the moment when the rain came down in a deluge. Although the steamer had just left the arsenal where it had been repaired in the best manner, the water penetrated the cabin on both sides. When the rain had ceased I heard a violent altercation between the captain and the clerk ; the latter had forgotten to take on board the post for Fashoda and Central Africa.

It was decided to land four sailors, and send them to Khartoum, and I took that opportunity to order them to seek m} servant, who had disappeared at the moment of our departure. At two a.m. the sailors returned with the mail-bag, but my servant had not been found.

Early on the 16th of July, the relations of Ziber Pasha begged permission to pay me a visit. Mean-Avhile the steamer had started, but all the same I allowed the four envoys to be introduced. I received them politely, regaling them with the usual coffee. They asked my permission to go on in advance of us as soon as they landed at Gaba-Shambe, before Suleiman should suspect that the Egyptian Government was sending troops against him. They hoped, and Avere indeed almost certain, that all the difficulties would be smoothed away ; but they begged that, in the worst case, I would try as far as lay in my power to obtain a pardon for Suleiman, or at least secure his life. I promised to do what I could, and told them that Gordon might obtain a pardon for him from the Viceroy.

I promised them that they should leave as soon as we arrived at Gaba-Sliambe, and that I would facilitate their journey. They blamed the people who surrounded Suleiman, he being very young and inexperienced, and much under the influence of his uncle Hamil Bey, and of his own captains. I was almost persuaded of their sincerity, — their behaviour would have convinced the most obstinate sceptic.

Late at night we arrived off Kava, and the