sently, from a distance, I saw Koorsliid, tlie Circassian,
approaching with, his partner. Coffee and pipes were
ready instanter, both the hoy Saat and Bicharn looked
upon him as a friend and ally, as it was arranged that
ten of his hunters were to accompany us. Before he
sipped his coffee he took me by the hand, and with
great confusion of manner he confessed that he was
ashamed to come and visit me. “ The moment you
left me yesterday,” said he, “ I called my vakeel and
headman, and ordered them to select the ten best men
of my party to accompany you; but instead of obeying
me as usual, they declared that nothing would induce
them to serve under y o u ; that you were a spy who
would report their proceedings to the Government,
and that they should all. be ruined; that you were
not only a spy on the slave-trade, but that you were
a Tna.dma.Ti, who would lead them into distant and
unknown countries, where both you and your wife and
they would all be murdered by the natives; thus they
would mutiny immediately, should you be forced upon
them.” My last hope was gone. Of course I thaiiked
Koorshid for his good-will, and explained that I should
not think of intruding myself upon his party, but that
t
at the same time they should not drive me out of the
country. I had abundance of stores and ammunition,
and now that my men had deserted me, I had suffi.-
cient corn to supply my small party for twelve months ;
I had also a quantity of garden-seeds, that I had
brought with me in the event of becoming a prisoner
in the country ; I should therefore make a zareeba or
camp at Gondokoro, and remain there until I should
receive men and supplies in the following season.
I now felt independent, having preserved my dépôt
of corn. I was at least proof against famine foi
twelve months. Koorshid endeavoured to persuade
me that my party of only a man and a boy would be
certainly insulted and attacked by the insolent natives
of the Bari tribe should I remain alone at Gondokoro
after the departure' of the traders’ parties. I told him
that I preferred the natives to the traders’ people, and
that I was resolved ; I merely begged him to lend me
one of his little slave boys as an interpreter, as I had
no means of communicating with the natives. This
he promised to do.
After Koorshid’s departure, we sat silently for some
minutes, both my wife and I occupied by the same
.thoughts.
- No expedition had ever been more carefully planned ;
everything had bèen wëll arranged to insure success.
My transport animals were in good condition ; their
saddles: and pads had been made under my own inspection
; my arms, ammunition, and supplies were abun-
VOL. I, K