start. Just at that moment, a government vessel, by
the merest chance, came swiftly down the river under
sail, and in the clumsiest manner crashed right into us.
The oars being lashed in their places on my boat, ready
to start, were broken to pieces by the other vessel,
which, fouling another of my boats just below, became
fixed. The reis, or captain of the government boat
that had caused the mischief, far from apologising,
commenced the foulest abuse; and refused to give
-oars in exchange for those he had destroyed. To start
was impossible without oars, and an angry altercation
being carried on between my men and the government
boat,'it was necessary to come to closer quarters. The
reis of the government boat was a gigantic black,
a Tokrouri (native of Darfur) who, confident in his
strength, challenged any one to come on board, nor did
any of my fellows respond to the invitation. The insolence
of Turkish government officials is beyond description—
my oars were smashed, and this insult was the
reparation; so, stepping quickly on board, and brushing
a few fellows on one side, I was obliged to come to a
physical explanation with the captain, which terminated
in a delivery of the oars. The bank of the river
was thronged with people, many were mere idlers
attracted by the bustle of the start, and others, the
friends and relatives of my people, who had come to
gay a last good-bye, with many women, to raise the
Arab cry of parting. Among others, was a tall, de-
bauched-looking fellow, excessively drunk and noisy,
who, quarrelling with a woman who attempted to
restrain him, insisted upon addressing a little boy
named Osman, declaring that he should not accompany
me unless he gave him a dollar to get sòme drink.
Osman was a sharp Arab boy of twelve years old,
whom I had engaged as one of the tent servants, and
the drunken Arab was his father, who wished to extort
some cash from his son before he parted ; but thè boy
Osman showed his filial affection in a most touching
manner, by running into the cabin, and .fetching a
powerful hippopotamus whip, with which he requested
me to have his father thrashed, or “ he would never
be gone.” Without indulging this amiable boy’s desire,
we shoved off ; the three vessels rowed into the middle
of the river, and hoisted sail ; a fair wind, and strong
current, moved us rapidly down the stream ; the
English flags fluttered gaily on the masts, and amidst
the shouting of farewells, and the rattling of musketry,
we started for the sources of the Nile. On passing the
steamer belonging to the Dutch ladies, Madame van
Capellan, and her charming daughter, Mademoiselle
Tinné, we saluted them with a volley, and kept up a
mutual waving of handkerchiefs until out of view ;