THE DESERT CART. 
17 
to which two valuable s'carabei were attached^, she placed them at 
my feetj and withdrew. 
During our stay at Assouan^ a disbanded soldier arrived from 
Alexandria. With many more he came up to Petherick^ and re- 
spectfully asked if he would take him into our service. There was 
something honest in the man^s face; and finding that he was a 
Dinka^ and^ as such^ would be useful as an interpreter when we 
were amongst that tribe,, it was arranged that he should at once 
join us. His story was a strange one^ as told to our people,, and 
reported to us by Mustapha. When his regiment moved from Cairo 
to Alexandria,, he left his wife at Cairo. When the Viceroy,, upon 
the Sultanas death,, dismissed (from motives of economy) a great 
portion of his army, this man^ Kheir Allah^ was in the first hatch. 
They were conveyed from Alexandria in boats^ and in receipt of 
their pay,, hut were not to land at Cairo. Kheir Allah sent .by a 
supposed friend his money to his wife^ begging her to settle her 
debts,, and come as soon as possible to the boat. Many hours 
passed,, but no wife appeared. At last^ as they were pushing off 
from the shore^ she approached to learn tidings of her husband^ not 
knowing that he was on board. The false friend had not been to 
her. Kheir Allah had but time to bid her follow him the first 
opportunity. The poor man was sadly troubled^ having given up 
his pay, to be of no service to himself or to her. 
On August IQth some twenty camels were ready to proceed with 
our baggage. We were glad to accept these beasts in driblets. 
We accompanied them on horsback a short distance. This evening 
a light spring cart, made in London, was put together, and the 
following morning a fine camel was put into the shafts, to make the 
2 
