THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



tax-gatherer made no effort to force a collection, but quietly 

 departed. 



A FIGHT. 



THE boats were now got under way, but had moved only a 

 short distance when a government boat came sailing swiftly down 

 the river and in a most reckless manner crushed into Baker's 

 boat, breaking the oars and otherwise damaging it. The reis, 

 or captain, instead of apologizing, broke forth in the wildest 

 abuse and invectives, positively refusing to make reparation for 

 the damage done, and dared any one of Baker's men to come on 

 board. This captain of the government boat was a gigantic 

 black, so conscious of his physical powers that he felt a savage 

 pride in parading them. As the boats had fallen foul of each 

 other, Baker brushed aside his men and stepped over to the gov- 

 ernment vessel, where the muscular black stood ready to receive 

 him. A fight took place between the two, with natural weapons, 

 in which Baker pommeled his adversary so soundly that the 

 black captain was exceedingly glad to escape further punishment 

 by giving Baker new oars in the place of those that were broken 

 and to abjectly apologize for his conduct. 



The expedition met with no further embarrassments and pro- 

 ceeded up the river for Goudokoro, which is the head of naviga- 

 tion on the Nile. 



THE FIRST DEATH. 



IN the party engaged at Khartoum was an adventurous German 

 named John Schmidt. He had been an old hunter in India, well 

 experienced in tropical sports and exposures, and a most service- 

 able man with such an expedition as Bakernow commanded, but 

 the poor fellow was badly afflicted with consumption. He was 

 very anxious to accompany Baker, feeling that such a journey 

 would improve his health, which he did not believe was seriously 

 impaired. Baker tried hard to ad.vise him against such an under- 

 taking, dwelling upon the extreme hardships which he must 

 certainly suffer; but Schmidt was determined, and Baker, on 

 the ground of old comradeship, finally consented to take him, 



