26 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



used by the French crusaders. Carriers were sent 

 out on dromedaries and soon returned, bringing with 

 them a dozen horsemen arrayed in coats of mail and 

 helmets, carrying long swords, the hilts of which 

 were in the shape of a cross, and riding horses richly 

 caparisoned from the head to the tail with very gaudy 

 cloth on a thick backing of cotton. They performed 

 some very clever feats of arms in our presence. 



" Towards the end of January the Viceroy started 

 in advance of my caravan, as it was desirable not to 

 have too many people together in case the supply of 

 water at the wells should run short; but we arranged 

 to meet from time to time at certain halting-places 

 fixed before starting." 



To Madame Delamalle. 

 (Continuation of the Diary.) 



" CAIRO, March 6, 1857. 



"I have at last arrived here safe and sound after 

 my long journey, having done the distance from Khar- 

 toum to the second cataract, which is about nine 

 hundred miles, in twenty-two days on an excellent 

 dromedary, which, however, was so tired during the 

 last week that he made a great many tumbles, and 

 tried my gymnastic abilities very highly. A steamer 

 was waiting for me at Ouade- el- Alpha * (the second 

 cataract), and the reason why I am a week behind the 

 Viceroy is that I was obliged to stop awhile in Dongola 



* Note of the Translator. Wadi-Halfa, as it is better known to 

 English readers since the Soudan campaign. 



