THE SLAVE TEADE — THE IBIS. 
97 
themselves farther up the river^ where they had again enormous 
herds of cattle^ and they had cultivated grain. The captives taken 
amounted to five hundred^ and the cattle to some twelve thousand ; 
the grain was also carried oflP. All the boats engaged proceed with 
their spoil to Mahommed Cheir’s village,, where the booty is divided,, 
that man receiving two-thirds for his share. These particulars were 
calmly related,, and when all had been told,, Petherick,, restraining 
his indignation,, dismissed the informants. During the night eight 
rafts, laden with the stolen grain, floated down stream — the men 
in charge singing gaily. Anchored for the night in the centre of 
the river. 
April \st . — A slight favourable breeze. At sunrise made way 
for a mile or two, and then the wind changed and blew from the 
south. Soon compelled to make fast to the shore, the wind dead 
against us. Petherick, taking advantage of this detention, went 
on shore, gun in hand, and soon returned with wild geese and a 
black ibis, a beautiful bird, tinted on the wing with hues similar to 
those on the neck of our drake. The Egyptians esteem this a 
sacred bird, and therefore will not eat it. In old old times, it is 
said that sentence of death was passed on any one who killed, even 
by accident, one of these birds ; for when the south winds swept 
the Libyan Deserts, it brought with it swarms of corn-devouring 
locusts. Plights of this bird, warned by its fine instinct, waited the 
approach of the foe which would ravage the harvest, and destroyed 
them j hence, the ibis is always prominent in relics of the ancient 
Egyptians. 
At noon a fitful breeze; made way for an hour, and then the 
men took to the tow-line with right good-will. 
The banks were studded with mimosa, sycamore, and tamarind 
7 
