390 Seven Years in the Sondan.

him, for that can do no harm. I liave warned Casati to be on his guard, and not allow himself to be deceived, because Emin Bey, besides being what I have described above, is a hypocritical person, ridiculously complimentary and cringing in his manner, and capable of deceiving the acutest man in the Avorld. Xow you will know what to do. . . .

" Yours, "R. Gessi."

tepfemher 2-)th, 1880. — We have been voyaging with the Safin, a slep, a nugger, a sandel, and a few ordinary boats, without meeting with much difficulty for five consecutive hours. We passed the place where the Jur flows into the Bahr-el-Ghazal, and are stopped in front of a bar of vegetable matter about five thousand feet long.

September 31st. — We are still under steam, passing four other bars, but fuel begins to grow scarce, and it is considered prudent to work with the windlass and towing ropes. We hoped a short time ago to reach the banks of the Bahr-el-Arab, where we might find the necessary wood, but the difficulty was such that we remained at a considerable distance. I was much surprised at the deteriorated state of the grappling irons, and there were only two blocks or pullcA's with one rope. From the beginning of the voyage, as soon as we had shipped our anchor, I judged the captain to be incapable and ignorant both of manceuvring and commanding the engine. It was a continual stop ; go ahead ; full speed ; stop ; turn ; stand ; easy ; full s])ced ; and so on, enough to make the engine-men lose their heads. They became so confused that they never perfectly executed a single command, not knowing what movement to make. I therefore appealed to a certain Meki Eifendi and Alsaga, an officer, and told them that with such a commander we might expect