138 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
fleet of seven boats towed onwards,, its mission known to every 
heart — a spot of ground was to be sought where poor Brownell 
might be laid. Beeds and water alone to be seen, and it was not 
until ten o’clock p.m. that land could be approached on the east 
shore. 
We remained with the Doctor on deck until midnight. He had 
another painful circumstance to relate which occurred the day of 
our departure from the Aliab, on the 16th of May, the doctors’ 
boat and consort having there remained, as the repairs necessary 
had not been completed. 
Just before the Lady of the Nile ” left the Aliab, a boat be- 
longing to a Syrian merchant at Khartoum, and on her way thither, 
moored near ours ; she had come from Akaba Shambyl. Mutual 
good wishes having been exchanged, we went our way, and the 
homeward-bound boat, hers ; but only a little way did she proceed 
down stream, as reported by Dr. Murie. The Nouaers whom we 
had left, having full confidence in Consul Petherick’s party, had 
during the whole of our stay continued their usual avocations of 
fishing, and of crossing in their canoes to the east bank, swimming 
their cattle, whence a short march led them to a place called Gouaer, 
where grain was bartered for the cattle, the Nouaers returning 
ere sunset with the corn, the women always accompanying their 
husbands. Frequently we heard them singing as they returned 
with the highly-prized grain. On the evening of the day we left the 
Aliab, these people were as usual returning to their homes, when 
they were surprised by the men of the boat bound for Khartoum, 
who had remained in ambush for the return of the villagers to 
capture them. Unsuspectingly the Nouaers approached the river, 
when the Khartoumers surrounded them. The negroes fought 
valiantly for a time ; but having only clubs and lances, they were 
