ABDULLAH RETURNS TO HIS MASTER. 121 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Feb. 6. Having decided upon sending to Kassala to- 

 morrow for any letters that may have arrived there, as 

 well as for a few useful supplies, such as lemons, eggs, 

 and honey, shooting has had to give place to corre- 

 spondence, as it will probably be our last chance of com- 

 municating with friends at home, and proving to them 

 how groundless so far have been the predictions poured 

 into our ears before starting of the risk we were about 

 to encounter to life or health through native tribes, 

 animals, or disease. It is also a chance not to be lost to- 

 send back Mr. Cohen's faithful servant (slave ?) to his 

 master, for a more idle, useless being than he has proved 

 could not be imagined, dividing his time solely between 

 eating and sleeping. Mr. Pickwick's fat boy would have 

 been a treasure compared with him, for between these 

 two laborious exercises he was known occasionally to 

 smile and to be a little 'wide awake,' whereas Abdullah 

 always looks sulky when by chance he is awake. He 

 proved himself, however, quite equal to looking after his 

 own interest, when paid his month's wages of four dollars, 



