74 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
Who was that man nailed to a piece of wood ? 
I told her it was the image of the Son of God^ and that wicked 
people had crucified Him. 
She passionately argued,, Why did God let them ? you say He 
can do all things. Your God is not good.'’^ 
It was vain to attempt explanation : she would not under- 
stand. 
January 1st, 1862. — A happy new year^-’ to all! Visits of 
congratulation from the residents,, and trilling gifts exchanged. 
Everything coming on grandly in the garden,, and many English 
seeds,, which we had sown upon arrival here^ were in bloom. The 
vegetables were in flourishing condition^ — peas, lettuce, turnips, &c. 
We had tried to cultivate the potato, hut without success. In 
Lower Egypt a large store had been purchased : these our people 
cut into thin slices during the river voyage, and, placed on mats, 
were dried in the sun ; thus preserved, they are extremely palatable 
when well boiled or fried, but the colour is destroyed. There is a 
vegetable much esteemed in this part of the world called hamia. 
The plant grows some two or three feet in height ; the pod or fruit 
from four to six inches in length, and two in circumference : this 
contains a pulpy and seedy substance somewhat resembling the 
vegetable marrow ; it is excellent to eat, boiled or stewed. 
One day good old Mustapha informed us that he was about to 
marry again. Of course the Mahommedans can do so. His first 
wife, the mother of our little Achmed, was still living in Kordofan. 
Mustapha asked that the servants might assist at the great fantasie 
on the occasion of his wedding, which was to be celebrated a week 
from that time. They did so, swelling the procession, and, as a 
matter of course, firing repeatedly ; the women zachareeting in- 
