20 
Soudan’s passage. 
was ill of fever, caused by his great exertions in 
bringing the vessel down the river. 
In obedience to Captain Trotter’s orders, the first 
anxiety was to get the ‘ Soudan ready as soon as 
possible to rejoin him up the river; as there was but 
too much reason to fear that he would require assist- 
ance. 
We must noAV take our readers back to the Con- 
fluence, where it will be remembered how rapidly the 
fever progressed in the several vessels, and that it 
was considered to be most expedient to send the 
‘Soudan’ down to the sea with the sick. On the 
evening of the 18 th of September, she received thir- 
teen cases of fever from the ‘ Albert,’ and on the fol- 
lowing morning six additional from the ‘ Wilberforce,’ 
making together with those of her own crew already 
in the list, upwards of forty cases. The weather was 
intensely hot. 
Before the ‘Soudan’s’ departure. Commander Bird 
Allen came on board to take leave of his former ship- 
mates, by whom he was univerally esteemed for his 
many fine qualities. How little was it then thought, 
that in so short a time his loss would be another deep 
cause of regi’et to the officers of the expedition. 
Soon after noon the ‘ Soudan’ got under weigh, in 
charge of Lieutenant Fishbourne, to take the sick to 
the coast. Assistant-Surgeon Stirling was sent on 
board to assist Mr. Thomson in the medical duties. 
