OUR STATIONS OX THE NILE 183 



health year in year out, and yet be accredited with heroism for 

 continuing to hold the appointment ; to delight neighbouring 

 chiefs with handsome presents and yet have not a penny of the 

 expense to bear, as these gifts are provided for in the Budget ; to 

 have a nominal and minimum share of Government responsi- 

 bility and yet locally " to boss the show," as the Yankee tersely 

 expresses the wielding of supreme authority, — to combine all these 

 at the same time, one has to be appointed officer in charge of 

 Fovira, and then one has in addition a sabbath stillness throughout 

 the week, lovely scenery, a timid and peaceful native population, 

 and last but not least, a regular monthly service with England, 

 bringing a fresh supply of letters, newspapers, periodicals and 

 books. 



The resident must keep his own garden, his own poultry, 

 his own sheep and goats ; but the cost of this is practically nil, 

 and may afford him a pleasant occupation. This dolce far 

 iiietite and truly rural existence suits best the sort of man who 

 can find absorbing interest in the progress of his rice crops, the 

 size of his onions, the goodness of his potatoes, the delicacy of 

 his peas and beans, the number of his carrots and beet-roots, the 

 mellowness of his melons, the succulence of his papayes, the 

 fragrance of his mignonette, and the rich display of colour of 

 his pansies, pinks, marigolds, zenias, and nasturtiums, and who 

 is not above taking pleasure in hearing of the last lamb or kid 

 born to his flock and the last batch of chickens reared. Govern- 

 ment has gratuitously supplied the station with some forty head 

 of cattle ; as none are slaughtered and the herd steadily multi- 

 plies, there need be no lack of milk and cream and butter, to 

 complete the happiness of this Arcadian life. 



The fort stands about 20 feet above the level of the river. 

 One side slopes down to the water, the other three sides have an 

 earth wall, a stockade, and a deep trench to protect them. There 

 are two entrances, one on each side of the fort. Of these, one 

 is bv means of a narrow drawbridge, looking somewhat like a 

 ladder when drawn up ; its length gauges the width of the 

 trench. A good many of the poles which were used for the 

 stockade belong to a juicy-stemmed plant. These have sprouted, 

 and with their crowns of tropical leaves they lend a picturesque 

 charm to the surroundings. Their presence has probably 

 attracted the scores of brilliantly coloured beetles which on my 

 tirst visit I saw buzzing about. Most of them were longicorns, 



