96 
STRAGGLERS THE HOSPITAL. 
trust to the same Providence that has hitherto 
watched over us. 
I am having all our letters of recommendation 
for the interior copied, to be sent home to Govern- 
ment, so that if anything happen to us they may 
know what kind of support w^e have received. If 
anything happen ! The presence of that doubt gives 
a solemnity and an importance to the most trifling 
thing we do. A soldier is allowed to indulge in 
serious thought before going into battle, and the 
chances in his favour are greater than those in 
ours. We, too, may have to do battle with men ; 
but the dangers of the desert are also arrayed 
against us, and when they are passed, the miasmas 
of Central Africa fill the air beyond. 
The marabout, with his camel and burden, has 
not yet come up ; he left us to visit his country. 
We are likewise still without news of three camel- 
loads left behind at Mizdah. There is always a 
train of stragglers behind every caravan that is not 
huddled together by fear. We should never have 
procured beasts enough on the road, and did well 
to take them direct from Tripoli. The Pasha's 
circular letter was of little or no use in this respect ; 
and, indeed, we could not expect it to cause camels 
to start out of the ground. 
8^A. — I paid a visit to the commandant of the 
troops, Runthar Aga, Bim Bashaw, quite a Chris- 
tian Moor ; and got information on military affairs 
whilst tasting the soup in the kitchen. Also called 
