168 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
continue her voyage to Gondokoro with the residue of stores. To 
enable her to do so^ all the cordage was to he taken from the other 
boatSj to be used as towing-lines,, whilst the “Lady of the Nile^^ and 
the remaining boats should return to Khartoum with current and 
sweeps, there to be re-fitted and furnished with fresh supplies, when, 
in company with the dahabyeh “ Kathleen,^ ^ it is hoped they will 
leave Khartoum in three months, and, favoured with the north 
wind, will arrive at Gondokoro ere the close of the year, when we 
trust also to meet them. In the meantime, if Speke and Grant 
arrive at Gondokoro ere these boats return from Khartoum, they 
will find reis Sur K attics boat at Gondokoro amply supplied with 
comforts and necessaries for their use. 
July 4dh. — Dr. Muriels boat and consort arrive : all well. The 
horses, donkeys, and sundry loads are dispatched to Ador in charge 
of Mussaad, an agent. Mons. Poncet, who is very generous, sends 
us fresh vegetables, the produce of one tiny bit of cultivated ground 
which has escaped inundation. He visited us to assure Petherick 
of the impossibility of proceeding to Gondokoro by the route pro- 
posed. Long resident among the Kytch, he says they are not to 
be depended on, and unless Petherick will seize the cattle of their 
enemies, the Aliab, and pay the porters therewith, it will be diffi- 
cult to get on. The porters who have already started received for 
the few miles to Ador a pair of copper ear-rings or a bracelet, with 
which they had seem^ed content. Petherick refusing to seize cattle, 
but one alternative presented itself — that suggested by Poncet, of 
our proceeding to his station at the Khol or Adael, fifteen days^ 
journey due west ; from thence by circuitous route to Gondokoro ; 
Poncet at the same time assuring Petherick that the tribes through 
which we should pass were strictly bead and copper trading people. 
