THE STORY OF ISHMAEL PASHA. 
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said to exist. In the town there had been a deep 
shaft dug for a well — evidently ancient, for it is not 
now in use : a deep stratum of pebbles, with concrete 
above, forms its sides. There appears to have been a 
canal or watercourse at this place, for its windings, 
flooded with water and covered with grass, are still 
visible. The women, as they carried water on their 
heads, struck us as having a singular way of dress- 
ing their hair ; but our Seedees remarked that a race 
of Central Africans, called the Wabeessa, near Lake 
Nyassa, adopt the same fashion. The Scendi women, 
like those of Abyssinia, have a tuft of hair on either 
side of the head and one behind, and the Wabeessa 
have the same, but add another tuft, like a high comb, 
to the top of their heads. 
Scendi is a place of some note, being the locality 
where Nimur (tiger), the former governor of all the 
blacks, planned the death of Poor Ishmael Pasha. The 
story was related to us as follows : — After Ishmael Pasha 
had conquered Khartoom, &c, he returned to Scendi, 
and asked Nimur what he was to give him. The 
reply was, " I will give you whatever you name, silver 
or gold, for I am anxious to make friends with you." 
After a time Ishmael with some followers became the 
guest of Nimur, who heaped quantities of provisions 
and straw for cavalry around the dwelling where Ish- 
mael lived. No suspicion was excited; but the straw 
was set fire to one windy night. Ishmael, it is said, 
was too proud to attempt an escape. His followers 
shielded him as long as they could from the flames, 
and one arm only was burned, but Ishmael perished 
under the ruins. After great difficulty a European 
recovered the body from Nimur, and it was sent for 
