A WEECK IN A CATAEACT. 
43 
gunpowder into the wound in the head_, and bandaged it up ; the 
arm was braced with splinters ; but in a fortnight mortification set 
in^ and he died. The scalp wound was cured^ and it was the injured 
arm that caused the poor fellow^s death. 
Saturday, September 2^1st . — We were breakfasting in the shed, 
when we were startled by the appearance of a gaunt-looking man, 
who entered, and in a very feeble voice gave his name as Monsieur 
Sponee. It was some time ere he could make himself understood, 
he was so weak j but a cup of coffee and a little stimulant revived 
him, and he was able to tell that he had arrived but a few moments 
before at Abu Hamad, in a boat from Khartoum; that he was 
employed by his Highness Halim Pacha to convey to Cairo a number 
of animals then on board, but he had been stricken with fever. He 
asked for that necessary medicine, quinine, of which he was desti- 
tute. It was given, of course; and hearing that there were two 
Abyssinian women on board who also were ill, the Doctor pre- 
scribed for them. 
In the evening we visited the boat to see the collection. There 
were some beautiful birds, a fine girafPe (its companion had died) , 
antelopes, and many other animals — none destined, however, to 
reach Cairo. We heard, soon after our arrival here, that in one of 
the cataracts the boat went down, and all on board were drowned 
but Monsieur Sponee ; and he, poor fellow, upon reaching Dongola, 
died from the efiects of his immersion and fever. 
Sunday, 22nd . — It was late in the afternoon ere we started to 
continue our land journey, keeping, however, generally in view of 
the Nile; and as little water required to be taken with us, the 
camels were less heavily laden. We were all wonderfully refreshed 
