56 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
had witnessed one on entering the space before the Governor's 
garden at Berber^ which was enclosed by a paling of stakes a little 
apart. Between two of them a camel could just pass^ and all were 
going safely through^ but Achmed^s camel took an opening to the 
right. It was too narrow^ and down came the boxes between which 
he was seated^ and little Achmed fell violently to the ground. The 
boy was on his feet in a moment_, as he saw his father approach 
with a whip to beat him for having fallen, but this the bystanders 
prevented. 
Tuesday^ October l^A—Preparations for departure — busy all day. 
Kheir AUah^s wife, who had reached her husband in safety, made 
herself useful ; she had no objection to serve the unbelievers. It 
* was sunset when we mounted to ride to the boats, and it was too 
dark to see anything of the town : it appeared a long straggling 
place. Quite a procession accompanied us to the river. Petherick 
had told me his boat, though a large and fine one, was perfectly 
destitute of anything comfortable, and I was agreeably surprised 
to find myself surrounded by all that was so. Lamps were lighted, 
furniture purchased at Silvers’s in London suitable for a boat, all 
well arranged, and I was at home. My husband, the Doctor, and 
Foxcroft had worked hard all day to surprise me thus. We ex- 
pected to sail that night. The horses and three servants were to 
go on by land, accompanied by the camels to carry grain. The 
Doctor and Foxcroft, attended by Kheir Allah and his wife, had a 
boat, with the usual complement of reis and sailors, to themselves ; 
two smaller ones were laden with baggage. 
Wednesday^ %nd . — At daylight still fast to the moorings, and 
many packages not stowed away. I had full time to observe the 
