ALI AND HIS SEEKYEH. 
87 
and of the former they bagged a quantity. At midday the 
thermometer in the cabin_, showed 102°;, at sunrise I read oflp 65°. 
In the course of the day the boat with the twenty-eight donkeys 
came up. She_, too_, had met Muth a disaster : her large sail was 
rent; and one of the creW; whilst attempting to furl it; fell from 
the yard on to the deck; breaking his jaw and his arm. In another 
hour the doctors^ boat; towed by the one which carried the horseS; 
arrived. We were right glad to congratulate the gentlemen upon 
their escape. They soon made themselves comfortable on shorC; 
pitching a tent; in which they located themselves. The injured 
man was attended tO; and pronounced in a fair way to recover. 
March 25^A. — Early in the morning I accompanied Petherick to 
the island he had visited the previous day; and enjoyed the change. 
Another eagle was shot; also a monkey; geesC; and doves. I picked 
up shells; principally the river-oyster and mussels. Keturned to 
breakfast; and there in the cabin a wee gazelle I saW; bought for 
me by one of the creW; Faki Mahommed. It was the prettiest 
little thing possible; and so young it scarcely could stand. A goat 
was purchased to give it milk. The old Arab secretary brought for 
ray acceptance a pair of green paroquets. I placed them in a cagC; 
and soon found a nook for them in our overcrowded cabin. This 
secretary was to leave us at this point; and proceed to Khartoum on 
camel-back. Our men here were mustered; and received their 
serkyehs, a paper of terms of agreement; and what money they had 
drawn. Amongst them was Ali; whO; when presented with his 
paper; which was of large dimensions; was made acquainted with 
the fact of his having received — including the debts that had been 
paid for him at Khartoum — money to the amount of said 
with a look indescribably droll; folding up his paper; Bismillah ! 
