70 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
‘‘ BOULAC, 
,, Jaimarii, 1865. 
Sister dear^, 
Still no hope of leaving yet awhile, Peth. very busy 
with his papers. The servants whom we brought from Khartoum 
have been systematieally robbing us. For some time past we have 
been missing small sums^ and knew not whom to suspect ; but the 
other day, when dining with your kind friends the Mosses^ at 
Shepherd^s Hotel;, Eechan_, our cook^ was found coming from one 
of the apartments ; a struggle took place;, his scarf or sash became 
unfolded^ and from it fell articles of jewellery^ gold coins and 
dollars ; a key also, which was a duplicate of Petherick^s secretaire. 
Rechan was taken to prison, but escaped next day j at least he, it 
is supposed, bribed the keepers, and so got free. The boy Bine, 
hearing of the arrest, quickly packed up his things and ran oflPj 
the reis of the ^ Kathleen^ did the same t all were in league. 
The wild donkey had been neglected, his food-money not being 
so expended, and he died; the groom then joined his fellow-servants. 
We now have only an old woman of Boulac to wait upon us. Polly 
parrot, who dislikes strangers, hides herself, and when the poor 
woman attempts to touch any of our belongings, either to dust or 
for any purpose, out rushes the parrot from her concealment to 
bite the servant’s feet or to seize her garments, which if she suc- 
ceeds in doing, Polly is happy, and testifies her delight by laughing 
loudly, winding up with a prolonged shriek. This bird is a great 
source of amusement to us : when the cloth is prepared for break- 
fast or dinner, she calls for her own particular chair to be placed 
near the table ; she then climbs to the top bar, whistles for a plate, 
and expects to be first served. Sometimes, to teaze her, Peth. 
assists me, when she, indignant, scolds him. Twice the bird has 
nearly met with a sad end. When off the Island of Roda, she 
