MONSIEUR PONCET JOINS COMPANY. 
89 ' 
before the wind_, flew past some islands of the Shillook^ and again 
those called the Abba were left far behind. 
The sun was going down when we made fast to an island to cut 
herbage for the animals and firewood for our cooking, Petherick 
went on shore^ bringing back some rare bats to enrich our collec- 
tion. In an hour all were on board,, and we pushed ofl‘^ a few 
mosquitoes buzzing about^ heralds of the hosts soon to come down 
upon us. At midnight we were roused from sleep by the announce- 
ment that a boat from Gaba Shambyl was making fast to the west 
bankj and that a sick person on board her desired to see Consul 
Petherick. Sail was immediately taken in^ and the felucca or sandal 
brought round, into which stepped Petherick and two servants, all 
with guns. I went on deck, and gazed upon the glorious stars. 
The Southern Cross was low in the heavens, and I gave myself up 
to a happy reverie, when, after the passing away of an hour thus 
peacefully, rapid firing was heard, and a fear came over me. I 
called the rets, and he, too — ^though appearing calm — must have 
been anxious, as he expressed a regret that the canoe generally 
attached to the Lady of the Nile should have been made over 
to the doctors^ boat, when in it he could have gone to make out 
the reason of this unusual disturbance. Whilst he spoke, I, with 
my heart in my ears, heard the song of the men as they pulled 
back the felucca, and I knew that all must be well with them. The 
invalid proved to be a friend of Petherick^ s. Monsieur Poncet, a 
Sardinian. He, with his brother, had tarried over the rainy season 
at their station, called Aboo Kooka. He was then on his way to 
Khartoum with ivory ; he had been attacked by fever, and was 
very ill. Monsieur Poncet reported that the country from this 
to the Sobat was in a very disturbed state. The once powerful 
Shillooks have been scattered far and wide, hundreds sold into 
