completed, and had narrowly escaped being shot by
running to the tent without giving warning. Seizing
the coorbatch from the hands of one of the executioners, -
I administered them a dose of their own prescription,
to their intense astonishment, as they did not appear
conscious of any outrage;—“ they were only Slave-,
women.” In all such expeditions it is necessary to:
have women belonging to the party to grind the corn
and prepare the food for the men ; I had accordingly
hired several from their proprietors at Khartoum, and
these had been maltreated as described.
I was determined at all hazards to start from Gon-
dokoro for the interior. From long experience with'
natives of wild countries, I did not despair of obtaining
an influence over my men, however bad, could I, once
quit Gondokoro, and lead them among the wild and
generally hostile tribes of the country; they would
then be separated from the contagion of the slave-
hunting parties, and would feel themselves dependant
upon me for guidance. Accordingly I professed to
believe in their promises to accompany me to the east,
although I knew of their conspiracy; and I trusted
that by tact and good management I should eventually
thwart all their plans, and, although forced out of my
intended course, I should be able to alter my route,
and to work round from the east to my original plan
of operations south. The interpreter given by Koorshid ,
Aga had absconded : this was a O great loss, as I had no
means of communication with the natives except by
casually engaging a Bari in the employment of the
traders, to whom I was obliged to pay exorbitantly in
copper bracelets for a few minutes’ conversation,
A party of Koorshid’s people had just arrived with,.
ivory from the Latooka country, bringing with them a
number of that tribe as porters. These people were ;
the most extraordinary that I had s e e n w e a r in g
beautiful helmets of glass beads, and being remarkably,
handsome. The chief of the party, “ Adda,” came to
my tent, accompanied by a few of his men. He was
one of the finest men I ever saw, and he gave me much
information concerning his country, and begged me,
to pay him a visit. He detested the Turks, but he
was obliged to serve them, as he had received. orders
from the great chief “ Commoro” to . collect porters,
and to transport their ivory from Latooka to Gondokoro.
I took his portrait, to his great delight, and made him
a variety of presents of copper bracelets, beads, and a
red cotton handkerchief; the latter was most prized,
and he insisted upon wearing it upon his person. He
had no intention of wearing his new acquisition for
the purpose of decency, but he carefully folded it so
as to form a triangle, and then tied it round his waist,