150 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
the wind had favoured them. A capital start before sunrise. Halima 
fell overboard whilst washing a water-bottle or goolah : she was 
swiftly carried down stream; but a sailor^ plunging after her_, rescued 
her. I was more disconcerted than the girl. A hurricane at noon ; 
the water rose in heavy waves against the stems of our boats, and 
obliged us to make fast to the reeds. Torrents of rain and con- 
trary wind during the day and night. 
May 3I5A — A dull, damp, miserable morning. The river very 
wide, and the reeds more dense than ever; on the east shore a 
magnificent row of the delaeb palms far from the bank; beyond 
these trees are villages of the Nouaers, on the banks of the Bahr il 
Giraffe. Towing all day; anchored at sunset. The men of the 
different boats paid each other visits ; all were gay, and the tara- 
hookas were beaten until midnight. Here there was a great bend 
in the river. 
Sunday y June \st . — A favourable breeze ; but the river winds so 
provokingly that we often lose it. Two of our men ill from dysen- 
tery. At four o^clock p.m. able to land on the east shore : wood is 
required, and here it was in abundance, so the men cut down great 
loads. We walked a considerable distance through the high grass, 
tumbling occasionally in the hidden tracks of the hippos’. The boy 
Achmed is now very expert with the butterfly-net : he comes with a 
radiant face when successful ; he is quite enthusiastic in the chase 
for insects, &c. We returned to the Lady of the Nile ” when the 
sun was going down, thoroughly tired, it is now so rare that ground 
can be found whereon to walk. It is pleasant to be welcomed 
back by your servants. Halima was there in a clean frock, a scarlet 
handkerchief round her head, and with smiles, I was ushered into 
