THE HAPPY VALLEY. 
49 
The sheikh rose,, saying, By the bones of my father, I will do 
the thing that is good; in me you see him. Consul, God is great, 
and you will come this way again : punish me if I shall have done 
what is bad.^'’ 
The money was handed to him; he made a bag for it in his 
loose white robe. Ali Nassa, still angry, talked to his partisans. 
One hour before, when strolling about the village, which is situated 
on the banks of the Nile, lovely groups of the palm tree and the 
fragrant mimosa surrounding it, and the land cultivated, speaking 
of the simple character of the people, of their frugal living, I had 
said, Surely this is the Happy Valley;"’^ but now, as I observed 
the countenances of the men, I thought the apple of discord has 
been thrown.^^ What will the end be ? 
That Safi faithfully fulfilled all he promised we have received 
proofs. A traveller who arrived at Khartoum some time after us, 
said that, passing Gagee, he observed the graves ; and, the white 
tablet particularly attracting his attention, he dismounted from his 
camel to read the inscription ; and he assured us that the tomb was 
in perfect repair. 
Petherick, as requested by the son of the deceased gentleman, 
in addition to pieces of calico and some wearing apparel, presented 
the old man with a handsome fez or cap, and to the sheikh a similar 
one. The latter accepted it with much grace j and, placing it on 
his head, he stood as if it had been a crown, so dignified was 
his air. 
At ten o’clock we started, the people wishing us all the good 
possible ; and many messages of remembrance were to be conveyed 
to the Melly family. The people seemed to look upon them as a 
part of themselves. We marched until noon, when we settled 
down near the river for some hours, needing, in truth, repose i 
4 
