94 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
This night,, for the first time, sentries were on guard : the country is 
so unsettled, that at any time the negroes might surprise us. 
March 29/A.— Made pretty good way during the night, though 
we were yet in the Pond. Seated on deck, having the early cup 
of cofiee, a hippopotamus violently struck the ^‘^Lady of the 
Nile;^^ a second time she attempted it, and we then noticed that 
her young one was near : it is then the females are dangerous. 
THE BA.GARAS HAILING THE REIS. 
Saw the first tamarind trees since our departure from Khartoum. 
Several crocodiles were basking in the sun on a long low island. 
About noon saw seventy Bagaras mounted on fine black horses, 
hailing from the west shore the rets, on this occasion to offer their 
services as elephant hunters. Large stinging flies troubled us 
