A PITEOUS SIGHT. 
13 
June 9th . — Whilst pleasantly sailing in the Pond, as it is called, 
between the two mountains Birket il Djebelein, we remarked five 
boats, the Ottoman fiag floating from their masts, moored to the 
bank ; and on the shore a multitude of slaves, many of whom, as 
seen aided by glasses, we fancied had encircling the neck that 
terrible fork of wood before described. To convince ourselves, 
Petherick ordered sail to be taken in, and we went on shore ; as 
we did so these unfortunates were driven off to the adjacent woods, 
women, children, and the sick who were powerless to move, alone 
remaining, and these were stricken with small pox and all its atten- 
dant horrors ! 
Mere skeletons of boys and girls, with sad entreating eyes and 
uplifted hands, mutely, but with power more eloquent than speech, 
implored for help — which we could not give. Oh, the pain of that 
scene ! The Bagara Arabs with their horses, these hired hunters 
of human beings, with some of their flesh-trading employers, were 
there. They almost impeded our return to the Kathleen,^^ for 
they had seen that pencil notes were taken of the number of their 
victims then on the spot. As we reached our boat, there, in the 
sweet waters of the Nile, was a dying, emaciated, aged negro ; his 
agony would soon be over. Never can I forget the piteous sight : 
deaf ears were turned to my entreaties to rescue him ; he had gone 
there to die. 
June Wth . — Arrived at the arsenal of Donagla, where we remained 
a few hours to purchase some fine sont timber, that my husband 
wanted to remove to Khartoum, for repairing some old boats, and 
the construction of a contemplated new one. Monsieur de Prys- 
senaere, having noticed our boats from a distance, hastened on his 
dromedary to greet us. He had been six months travelling in the 
