AREIVAL OF THE "'KATHLEEN.'' 
23 
in or around the tent. Their going to roost was an amusing sight. 
Their cage was placed in a tree^ and^ to enable them to get to it, at 
sunset I always placed a ladder, up which they gravely stepped. 
We now prepared for the final start ; more camels were reported 
as near. A week would suffice, the sheikh said, for their rest, and 
then we could bid adieu to Korosko. It was told us that Kheir 
Allah's wife had arrived, accompanied by her daughter and son-in- 
law. This man was a fanatic Mussulman, and protested against 
her serving the unbelievers. He would not permit her to remain 
with us, and would only give her up to her husband; and they 
proceeded with four camels to cross the desert. 
On August 28^A we received tidings of the dahabyeh Petherick 
had left at Boulac to be fitted with every comfort for our trip to 
Gondokoro. She was coming up with the high Nile, and would 
pass safely, we trusted, the many cataracts to Khartoum. We 
heard that Mr. Murie, a medical man who was to accompany us 
to the interior of Africa, was on board, though we had little thought 
of seeing the " Kathleen," when we left Cairo, before her arrival at 
Khartoum : this was now feasible. Three mornings our rides were 
extended far along the banks of the Nile, and vainly we strained 
our eyes for dear old England's flag. But on the evening of the 
31st, when we were busily preparing for departure on the day but 
one following, I saw a European with his attendant approach. I 
knew it must be Murie, and advanced to meet him. Warm were 
the greetings; the well-known Scotch accent sounded pleasantly 
to my ear. Petherick was occupied with the cart that was on the 
point of starting (we were to pick it up some miles ofi*). The 
Doctor (for from the moment he joined us he was so called) accom- 
panied me to the hard-working husband. His surprise was great 
