252 LIFE WITH THE HAMRAN ARABS. 



we took every pains at Cairo, where it probably occurs, 

 to arrange for their transmission to Souakim by the 

 Egyptian steamers, and a friend promised to keep an 

 eye to our interests there. At Souakim we left a money 

 deposit with the Egyptian postal agent, to ensure their 

 transfer across the desert, so we do not expect the delay 

 arises there, and now there is little hope of getting home 

 news until our return to Cairo. 



Hadji Basheer does not bring good news from Kas- 

 sala, for small-pox has broken out there, and is so rapidly 

 spreading that the inhabitants are leaving the town as 

 fast as they can. He had consequently great difficulty, 

 and in some instances failed, in fulfilling our small com- 

 missions. The camel he took with him has not returned 

 quite unladen, however, as he managed to buy about two 

 hundred small hens' eggs distinctly of the ' cooking ' 

 variety, and therefore requiring considerable care in their 

 selection lemons, onions, coffee, and sugar in loaf. 

 Emanuel was very proud to be able to lend us from his 

 stores some of the last two items, to show how careful 

 he had been with his half of our original division, not- 

 withstanding the extra drain upon them by the visitors 

 from Massowah. But he has not had a black cook 

 with him like Mohamed, who from morning to night is 

 drinking coffee as strong as it can be made, and as 

 sweet as syrup. The lemons are very small and have 

 little juice, but they impart some flavour to the water, 



