CONFUSION ON BOARD. 
81 
fowling-pieces. Under hatches were all sorts of preserved provi- 
sions,, and a vast quantity of grain, stores of every description, and 
clothing. There was, too, a punt gun. ' 
In the small boat or sandal were sheep and poultry. The other 
boats were also deeply laden. One carried the two doctors, and 
Signor Carlo Evangelisto, an Italian — he was an elephant hunter — 
their servants, Fadl Allah and Cheir Allah, and a youth. Signor 
Carlo’s attendant, several soldiers, eight sailors, rets, and mate or 
mastamil, and two women to grind corn. She carried also twelve 
donkeys. Another boat, a very fine one, conveyed a large body of 
soldiers, a reis, sailors, &c., and the women to grind corn ; our 
horses, Arab ” and Luxor,” and two grooms (the horse Baby ” 
was left at Khartoum) . Grain and ammunition to a considerable 
amount were in this dahabyeh. The smaller boats are called 
nuggers ; ” the fourth and last boat was one ; she was laden with 
twenty- eight donkeys, some ten soldiers were also in her, and the 
usual complement of sailors, with reis and mastamil. 
We were on board the Lady of the Nile ” a quarter of an hour 
when the signal to start was given. I need not describe how great 
was the enthusiasm ; we appeared to carry the good wishes of the 
crowds assembled, who ran along the banks of the river as far 
as practicable; whilst all on board were either attending to the 
ropes and sails, or firing, or playing their crude musical instruments 
— the tarabooka principally — and singing in their own wild but 
heart-thrilling manner ; whilst the women on shore, sweethearts, 
wives, or mothers, following as long as they could, zachareeting 
joyously; others throwing dust over their heads, so bitterly did 
they feel the parting, holding their little ones on high, from time to 
time, to catch a last glimpse of the aboo or father. 
This start is only a preliminary one, as all boats stop at the Point, 
6 
