ALBERT AND ESS API HA VE A ROW. 



145 



after the rains, and depart again before they set in. 

 Vivian, when returning home to-day, killed seven guinea- 

 fowl with a right-and-left. 



Fortunately we are well supplied with books, so 

 Cumming has some amusement whilst lying quietly 

 on his bed under a tree. From his position he has a 

 good view of the river, and part of to-day was spent 

 watching the Arabs cut up the crocodile I shot on the 

 1 3th, which did not float till this morning ; and afterwards 

 seeing the gathering over the remnants of numerous 

 Marabou storks, and, by their kind permission, of some 

 small brown vultures. These storks have an absurd re- 

 semblance to thin old men in white waistcoats and 

 evening dress-coats, with hands tucked under the coat- 

 tails, and head thrown forwards as if weighed down by 

 all the cares, imaginary or otherwise, of a long Parlia- 

 mentary career. The Arabs killed a porcupine to-day 

 with their spears, and with great parade it was brought 

 to us as a present ; but as all the best quills had ' dropped 

 out,' we would not accept it. 



Feb. 1 6. A light mist almost throughout the day 

 has been another atmospheric novelty, and by no means 

 an agreeable one, for with a maximum temperature in 

 the shade of 87 Fah. it has felt particularly oppressive. 



It has been very oppressive also in another sense, for 

 Albert is in disgrace. Some question -arose between 

 Essafi and himself this morning about a koorbatch which 



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