40 LIFE WITH THE HAM RAN ARABS. 



CHAPTER III. 



AFTER finding a piece of moderately clean ground out- 

 side the town for our camp, we were escorted by Albert 

 through a crowd of natives to the palace of the Governor 

 of the Soudan country, and most fortunately found him 

 at home. His name is Munsinger Pasha, and, though a 

 Swiss by birth, he has made this country his home ; and 

 it was he who, as British Consul at Massowah, did such 

 good service to the English army during the Abyssinian 

 expedition. He speaks English very well, which is a 

 great comfort, as we shall be able to explain our wants 

 without the aid of an interpreter. He received us in his 

 office, a bare-looking room with a raised cushioned seat 

 at one end and a writing table to represent the furni- 

 ture ; and whilst he read our firman's we amused ourselves 

 watching the movements of a little black boy about five 

 years old, who played about the room quite regardless, 

 of us, as if he were thoroughly accustomed to official 

 life ; but his entire costume consisted only of a tar- 

 boosh and earrings, and as he remained apparently un- 

 heeded by the Governor, it occurred to us as probable 



