116 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

CHAPTER YII.

LADO TO DJOUR GHATTAS.

A SALUTE of seven guns greeted the rising sun on September 18. The new moon had been seen the night before; three men had sworn before the Kadi that they had seen it, and so the great fast of Eamadan was declared to be at an end. The bloodred banner of Egypt with its snowy crescent and stars was waving gallantly in the soft south breeze, the band was playing, all the officers and soldiers were arrayed in their best uniforms, and there was general rejoicing at the conclusion of the rigorous period of abstinence.

It was on this day that we were to leave Lado, and by 7.15 all was ready for the march ; prayer had been offered in the mosque, for without this religious observance no Moslem dare begin a journey ; and soon after, the signal was given for our porters to start.

Our other adieux having been said, we bid a thankful farewell to our kind and hospitable friend. Dr. Emin Bey. We parted with great regret ; it is always so in these lands, where such lono- distances have to be traversed before a Euro-