GOUEZET IL KELLAB. 
131 
angry blows^ when the club of the negro_, who sought Petherick^s 
protection,, dexterously thrown^ killed his neighbour. 
Sunday, May l^th . — We were now occasionally going before the 
wind^ the river winding in the most eccentric way ; this winding is 
called by the Arab navigators gourzet il kellab,^’ (^‘^the turning of 
the dogs . At times we are sailing due north,, then souths the 
doctors^ boat appearing at times close to us,, but in reality by river 
a long way olF^ and sailing in an opposite direction. 
May \9th . — A warm^ stifling air. Towing up to tall dense reeds,, 
twenty feet high out of water^ filled with mosquitoes. The creeping 
plants are various and lovely ; they hang in graceful festoons among 
the reeds. We notice a delicately tinted bufP convolvulus^ and then 
appears a bright yellow one with leaves of the darkest green,, and 
anon is one great favourite of the marsh-mallow hue. Many gor- 
geous butterflies alight on the rigging ; these are speedily netted 
by the boy Achmed and Foxcroft. Still more convolvuli, some 
flowers of which I snatched from the reeds. A large white poppy 
(like one, but it withers while I hold it) ; a deep purple one too, and 
from a large grass island, which Ringa checks as it comes quickly 
floating past, he plucks a little flower like our forget-me-not. Oh ! 
how dear it is, bringing to our hearts remembrances of home ! 
During the noontide heat — and it was intense — the reis entered 
our cabin, saying that three boats with the English flag were coming 
down the river. Can we ever forget the delight of that moment ? 
We felt so sure that the travellers Captains Speke and Grant were 
on board. Up went our flags, and Petherick, forgetting his precept 
to the men never to waste powder, commenced the firing, those on 
board the approaching boats returning the salute. Though still 
some distance off, they were recognized as ours. Rechan came for 
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