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perfection for a camp; drains were dug around the
tent walls, and everything was arranged for a permanency.
I agreed with the sheik for the erection
of a comfortable hut for ourselves, a kitchen adjoining,
-and a hut for the servants, as the heavy storms were
too severe for a life under canvas; in the mean
time we sat in our tent, and had a quiet chat with
Florian the German.
He was a sallow, sickly-looking man, who with
a large bony frame had been reduced from constant
hard work and frequent sickness to little - but skin
and sinew; he was a mason, who had left Germany
with the Austrian Mission to Khartoum, but finding
the work too laborious in such a climate, he and a
friend, who was a carpenter, had declared for independence,
and they had left the Mission.
They were both enterprising fellows, and sportsmen,
therefore they had purchased rifles and ammunition,
and had commenced life as hunters; at the same
time they employed their leisure hours in earning
money by the work of their hands in various ways.
Florian, being a stonemason, had of course built his
hut of stone ; he was a fair blacksmith and carpenter,
and was well provided with tools; but his principal
occupation was. whipmaking, from the hides of hippopotami.
As coorbatches were required throughout
the country there was; an extensive demand for his
camel-whips, which were, far superior tq thogev of
native . manufacture ; these he sold to the Arabs, at
about two shillings each. He had lately met with
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