my wife.” “ Your wife! What a lie ! -He is a boy/
“ Not a bit of it,” I replied; “ she is my wife, who has
come with me to see the women of this country.
“ What a lie ! ” he again politely rejoined in the one
expressive Arabic word, " Katab.”
After this charmingly frank conversation he addressed
the crowd, explaining, I suppose; that I was endeavouring
to pass off a boy for a woman. Mrs. Baker
W a s dressed similar to myself in a pair of loose trousers
and gaiters, with a blouse and belt—the only difference
being that she wore long sleeves, while my arms were
bare from a few inches below the shoulder. I. always
kept my arms bare as being cooler than if covered.
The curiosity of the crowd was becoming impertinent,
when at an opportune moment the chief
appeared. To my astonishment I recognised him as
a man who had often visited me at G-ondokoro, to
whom I had given many presents without knowing
his position.
In a few moments he drove away the crowd,
screaming and gesticulating at them as though greatly
insulted; reserving the humpback as interpreter, he
apologized for the rudeness of his people. Just at this
instant I perceived, in the distance, the English flag
leading the caravan of camels and donkeys from the
hillside into the valley, and my people and baggage
shortly arrived. The chief now brought me a large
pumpkin-ahell containing about a gallon of merissa,
or native beer, which was most refreshing. He also
brought a gourd-bottle full of honey, and an elephant’s
tusk ; the latter I declined, as ivory was not
required.
We were now within six miles of Ellyria, and by
means of the humpback I explained to Tombé, the
chief, that we wished to Start the first thing in the
morning, and that I would engage the humpback as
interpreter. This was agreed upon, and I now had
hopes of getting through Ellyria. before the arrival
of the Turks. My caravan having arrived, the interest
first bestowed upon the horses, as being a new kind
of animal, was now transferred to the camels. The
natives crowded round them, exclaiming, “ that they
were the giraffes of our country.” They were amazed
at the loads that they carried, and many assisted in
unloading.
I noticed, however, that they stuck their fingers
through the baskets to investigate the contents ; and
when they perceived twenty baskets full of beads,
and many of copper bracelets—the jingling of which
betrayed the contents—they became rather too eager
in lending a helping hand ; therefore I told the chief
to order his men to retire while I opened one bag
M 2