THE DESERT JOURNEY IS OVER. 333 



Ranfurly, no fluid could pass our lips before leaving 

 our resting-place at 6 A.M., and when we reached our 

 haven of rest soon after 8 A.M. the sun was becoming 

 unpleasantly felt by men who had been so many hours 

 without water. As we entered the town several soldiers 

 followed us to the pier, to carry off our two wretched 

 camels so soon as we should dismount. Our Arab 

 besought us to protect him from them, and they 

 promised not to take possession of his camels until 

 after we had seen the Governor concerning them. 



Directly after we landed on the island we met Coke 

 and Gumming on their way to a boat to be taken on 

 board the mail steamer, as she had arrived a day sooner 

 than was expected, and was then starting for Suez. As 

 another, now in harbour, had been advertised to leave 

 to-morrow, Arkwright preferred postponing his de- 

 parture that he might if possible rejoin his old com- 

 panion Ranfurly ; and I was very glad to hear them 

 all say that they thought he was looking better than 

 when we left them at Kassala. Arkwright introduced \ 

 us to his friend Ali Effendi, the Steam Packet Company's 

 agent, who had kept open house for the first arrivals I 

 since yesterday, and now wished to extend his hospitality 

 to us. Words cannot fully express how thankful we 

 were to find ourselves, after our long and anxious desert 

 journey, lying on comfortable Persian carpets and 

 cushions in a cool and airy room ; and it seemed nowl 



