58 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
when their snpper was served to them on the bank_, where they also 
slept. The sheep (we had^ when starting, seven) were let on shore 
to pick up the herbage ; and we generally strolled abont, bringing 
down a bird or two : these the Doctor and Foxcroft stuffed ; Achmed 
was the butterfly-hunter ; and in all the collections we were fortunate. 
About half-way between Berber and Darner there is a beautifully 
wooded island, on which we landed. Some bright- coloured birds 
were shot. Soon after we sailed through a fine range of mountains. 
A cataract was here, which was got over without trouble, as the 
river was so high. At Darner the salt of the country is procured 
from the soil, by evaporation, and sold in great quantities. If there 
was no wind favourable, which was generally the case, the Doctor 
came to our boat, The Lady of the Nile,^^ to breakfast and dine. 
The river scenery from Berber to Khartoum far surpasses that 
from Cairo to Korosko. In many parts it was wildly grand. One 
night the wind rose, and the men came on board. It blew a gale, 
and the boats scudded along rapidly ; this lasted for some hours, 
and good way was made. On another occasion fourteen of the men 
were on shore, towing ; the line broke, and a gust of wind sprang 
up. A small sail was loose ; it filled, and away flew the boat short 
of hands. Petherick took the helm; the large sail was set, and 
leaving the men to come up as best they could, we went gallantly 
on for eight hours. At sunset the wind died away, and during the 
night the crew rejoined. 
Wherever we stopped, if near a village, the sheikh always came, 
and sheep by the half-dozen at a time were presented to Petherick. 
The men fared well ; and indeed they deserved it, for they went 
through a great deal of fatigue. It was a pleasant time we passed 
— the climate I delighted in — all of us were so light-hearted, and 
the tempers were as sunny as the sky. 
