202 HOST OF ASSISTANTS. 



CHAPTER XV. 



The Alburhah again under iveigh. — A7i Anchor lost. — Death 

 of the Mate. — Difficulties of ascending the River. — Arrival 

 at Iddah. — Motives of the Expedition suspected. — Rumours 

 of Plots against the Vessel. 



On the 1st January 1834, as soon as the men 

 had received their New Year's glass, the fires 

 were lighted for the purpose of making our last 

 trial with the engine ; and I was in anxious hopes 

 that the result might be successful. 



About an hour after the gun had been fired, 

 Abboka, accompanied by Sullikeen Caswau, his 

 relative and inspector of the markets, came along- 

 side. He had brought with him ten large war- 

 canoes, each containing fifty or sixty men, who 

 were to assist in towing up the vessel. I now 

 began to think that the King of Iddah was not 

 in jest when he said that " the vessel should 

 come up even if it were carried on men's heads," 

 for certainly there was almost a sufficient num- 

 ber of men to carry the little iron boat. 



