MBULI. 39

Nile, arid had to be avenged. The offenders wer3

severely punished, and eight hundred head of cattle had been taken from them, so that food was abun-

dant now. The station had also been threatened by

Kabrega, and the old stockade not being as strong

as was desirable, Farag Aga, the commander of the

soldiers, was busily engaged in constructing a sub-

stantial earthwork. This Farag Aga Ajok is the young soldier whom Sir Samuel Baker was going

to shoot at Tewfikiah, and of whom he makes fre-

quent mention in 'Ismailia.' He is a thorough

soldier, and a very good fellow, and I became much

attached to him. He told me many tales of Sir Samuel and Lady Baker, for whom he has a great

respect.

The Waganda only stayed one day to rest, and to

try to sell their cattle. In this latter endeavour

they did not meet with much success, to their

great mortification. They were greatly disgusted, and attributed their ill-luck to me. I cannot say

I was much grieved. I told them that if they had

not stolen the cows which the king had sent for my use, they might, perhaps, have been more suc-

cessful in their marketing. This did not console them ; they said they were quite ready now to

accept the red-caps which I had offered for my own

cattle when on the march. I calmly but firmly

declined to give them anything of the sort; they

departed, unsuccessful and hardly happy.