122 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
by talking and laughing with the soldiers and crew. Petherick^s 
conference with the chief was long-continued ; he had many griev- 
ances to relate. He seemed an avaricious man^ being solicitous 
for presents. During the intervals which ensued between the con- 
versation^ vast quantities of tobacco were smoked — puflp^ puff for 
five minutes^, and then a word ; fully two hours were thus wasted. 
It was decided that here we should await the arrival of the boats. 
A bullock was purchased and slaughtered ; our people constructed 
little tents of their ferdas or scarfs^ under which to sleep ; large fires 
were kindled,, and preparations for a fantasie were quickly made. 
I strolled out with Petherick before sunset^ and on our return the 
scene was animated in the extreme. Ali the Careless^ always the 
first to promote gaiety^ was beating tarabooka, and^ with a chorus 
to support him,, was singing a very pretty air in praise of the gazelle 
(not my own particular gazelle^ but a song of the country) . 
May 7 th . — Last night the two wives of the old chief wished to 
come on board the Lady of the Nile/^ saying that they had 
no food to eat ; but the reis would not listen to them ; therefore 
they remained on shore as near as possible to the dahabyeh. Their 
children were with them. At dawn the chief Shotbyl came to seek 
his young wives and to entreat that Petherick would judge between 
them. The women cried loudly and declared their intention never 
more to return to their home. A kind of court was held on board,, 
and the wives were first summoned^ and they most positively swore 
that they had not food sufficient^ and that their husband was harsh 
and cruel. The old chief sat silent ; but the second chief Spoke 
indignantly^ It is not true ; these women are bad. Look at them 
— do they appear starved ? No,, their hands are always in the dish 
with his ; but they are weary of him^ and seek a divorce. They 
