'"ALI THE CARELESS. 
113 
)) 
thrashing Ali the Careless ; but he put him on half-pay. Now, 
when Ali begged forgiveness, it was that he might be regarded once 
more as a faithful servant, expressing no wish for the withdrawal 
of the interdict placed on his wages ; but Petherick called for the 
secretary, and gave him orders to restore Ali to his former footing 
on the list. The men were highly pleased, and for the first time since 
poor Fakirs death, the tarabooka was beaten, and a new verse was 
improvised and added to the already very long one they sing in 
praise of the Consul Inglese. 
April 2>0th . — A welcome breeze favoured us until noon. The 
river took a westerly winding. Passed an important village of the 
Nouaer, called Rady an. About the village were groups of the" 
delaeb palm trees (Borassus jBthiopum) , with their golden fruit 
large and round ; not pleasant, however, to eat. 
Floating islands of herbage shooting past, some often entangling 
the dahabyeh, and the reeds from both banks extended far into the 
river. It was impossible to bring the boat to the shore ; and as 
there was no firewood on board, there was no dinner. And at sun- 
set the rain came down in torrents ; but it failed to damp our spirits 
or to drown the mosquitoes. 
May Ist . — A slight favourable breeze at dawn ; it soon died away. 
Ere the sun was well up an opening in the reeds was discovered ; 
it had evidently been cleared by the negroes for the purpose of fish- 
ing. This was taken advantage of, and a landing efiected. 
Petherick and Carlo went off to shoot for a breakfast, whilst I, 
to have two strings to the bow, threw out a fishing-line, and caught 
several delicately tinted fish, like mackerel. I proudly set my 
dainty dish before the famished hunters on their return. They 
8 
