26 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AEEICA. 
sympathy repeat_, sister mine, our expressions of gratitude : they 
spring from the heart. Such a touching incident took place a day 
or two ago. When on our voyage to Gondokoro, one of our best 
men, Faki Mahommed, was seized by a crocodile, and we saw 
him no more. Dear Peth. gave orders that the wages he paid 
Faki should he continued to his infant son, who, with his mother, 
lived a long way oflP at Dongola. The uncle of this boy has 
travelled here from thence to tender his thanks, and to say no 
longer was the money required for the child, as he was dead. The 
fine old patriarch, with his grey beard, grand face, and turbaned 
head, was a picture to behold. I wept : he thought it was for the 
child I had never seen, and he stooped to kiss my hand ; but my 
emotion arose from his noble act, thus to apprise Petherick of a 
circumstance which might never have been known to us — he to 
come so far for the sole purpose of giving up the pay which regu- 
larly had been received. He brought with him a quantity of 
delicate golded-tinted dates for Petherick^s acceptance. With us 
the old man rested a night and day, and then returned to Dongola, 
bearing, as you may be sure, a gift or two to Faki's widow.'" 
“ KHARTOUM, 
“ March 
Sister dear, 
I hardly know how to write, I am so glad, and yet so 
sad. The joy predominates, ^for we are going home!" We expect 
news of Madame Tinne. Last Saturday at an early hour. Made- 
moiselle Capellan came to give us tidings that boats from the 
Bahar il Gazal were seen at Wallad Shallai, a short distance from 
this, some four days, perhaps ; but the north wind blows so strong 
