i6 Seven Years in the Soudan.

CHAPTER nr.

THK " SAl'MIA."

Preparations — J)eparturo in the Saphia — Ansou — The ivor3--merchants and the slaves — Deserters — Indolence — Hnrricane — Kava — The ums-anderach(?) — Mosquitoes — CaptainHussein — African nights — Hippopotanms hunts — Hurricane — Aground — The Bagara — Kiika.

DuiJiNi; the ten days wc passed at Kliartoum, wp. occupied ourselves Avitli tlic preparations for departure. We had to make provision for six months, and the Colonel was distributing a part of the stores which had arrived from England.

On May 29th I received the order to embark on the steamboat Saphia bound for Bahr-el-Ghazal. Mr. Anson was appointed my adjutant, and an escort of twenty-three negro soldiers was assigned to me. Husseiu, the captain of the SdiJita, had orders to put himself entirely at our disposal.

At four o'clock in the morning of the next da}' I was to set out on my journey, but the departure was delayed because the soldiers had not arrived, and the cashier did not pay their arrears till the moment of embarking. Finall}', at eight o'clock the steamer cast anchor near the arsenal to take in some oars and await two nugars laden with doora which we were to take in tow.

Two merchants in ivory and slaves, Kutshuk Ali and Agat Effendi, gave me letters for their representatives at Bahr-el-Gliazal.

Here perhaps it will be well if T give a few quotations from my journal: —