172 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
Last night one of the tookuls caught fire, but it was soon ex- 
tinguished. 
July ^Oth . — The porters not yet arrived, and we are most un- 
comfortable in our dismantled cabins ; groans and grumblings are 
alone heard from all. A negress— wife of one of the Kytch — 
declared herself bewitched, and screamed violently for a herb which 
was pronounced an effectual cure in such cases. As this was not 
forthcoming, she permitted Dr. Murie to administer some medicine, 
and then became quiet. 
July 3D/. — Our horses arrived with their grooms from Ador. 
August — The porters being still absent, we determined to 
make a start, at last, without them. Tlie morning is brilliant, 
our men are consequently in better temper, so we think it as well 
to take advantage of that circumstance. Petherick summoned 
those he wished to attend us, and, mentioning the difficulties, said, 
“^Now, men, are you ready to follow us onwards? my wife and 
self go.^’’ 
With one voice they said, Where a woman can venture, are we 
girls, or are we men, that you should ask us ? 
I had now to make my farewells to the reis, the warm-hearted 
crew, to the little girl whose acquaintance I had first made on board 
this boat at Berber, now much grown, and quite a companion of 
mine ; to the boy Achmed, who was too fragile a child for the march ; 
good bye also to the gazelle, a great pet, and to the little birds. 
Dr. Murie and Foxcroft were to remain at the station until the 
arrival of porters, to bring them on to Ador. 
At noon all was ready for the start. A gun was fired, and the 
