Great Mortality through Famine. 395 for tUeiv crews have to clear the way, and we are often obliged to go to their assistance, so that the work is trebled and the discontent of the people increased.

One of the boats, laden with ivory and timber, had remained far behind, and the people in the steamer refused to obey the captain and go to fetch it. If we had had to abandon it, it would have been a great loss, so I offered a reward of fifty dollars out of my own pocket to volunteers. A crew of four hundred then went to save it, and after hard work for two days brought it up to the steamer.

The soldiers begin to eat the skins in which they wrap their property to keep it dry. They cut up the skins, soak them in water all night, and the next day remove the hair, boil them, and then roast them on the fire.

Ocfoher 2oth. — The captain comes to tell me that he does not know what to do, for the soldiers will not work, and also the provisions of the sailors are beginning to fail.

Ocfoher 26t]i. — It had been said that I had a depot of sixty sacks of flour, and the news is believed more firmly every day. It was that rascal of a Fadlp Mulle who spread the report, wishing to excite a rebellion against me. Yesterday, finding that it was being more and more confirmed, I called all the subofiicers and told them that I knew of the report spread about me, and J invited them to pay a visit to my room, where I kept all my things, and to assure themselves that the assertion was false, as I had nothing but six tins of flour for myself and servants for fifteen days. I went down with them, made them examine the whole ship, and thus calmed them. I bought from the captain, the sailors and the head fireman, honey and tamarinds for the sum of thirty dollars, and to others I gave money, so that they again began to work.

Ocfoher 28f//,. — An Arab soldier, while I was