278 UGANDA AND TEE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

CHAPTEE XII.

DARA TO OBEID AND KOEDOFAN.

Our preparations for leaving Dara were finished on January 8, and soon after noon the camels made their appearance, and the difficult business of settling the loads and paying the camel-drivers began. It was a noisy scene, and the Waganda added to the confusion ; they had never seen camels before, and were much frightened at them, so that we had some trouble in inducing them to mount. Thanks, however, to Slatin Bey, who, in addition to his kind hospitality during our visit to Dara, had packed up a largo box of luxuries for our use on the road, all was speedily reduced to order, and we set off, being accompanied by him and a small company of horsemen for a few miles. We had an escort of five Arnaut irregular horsemen as far as Tuaisha. A Greek merchant, Hunstanti, and a man named Unis, a petty Arab merchant, travelled with us, and were of great service to us, as they were well acquainted with the road and the habits of the villagers. They had with them a few donkeys, some camels, and a number of servants, and were going to Obeid to purchase stores. What became of the servants will appear later on.