A MUEDEEOUS AFFEAY. 
203 
three feet ; greater girth of hody^ one foot ten and a half inches ; 
a harCj heart-shaped^ yellow patch on breast^ four inches long_, 
three inches broad/^ 
At noon my wife had a severe attack of rheumatic fever^ which 
lasted three hours, and unfortunately, the stores having been sent 
on, no little comforts, such as arrowroot, can be given to her. 
We are anxiously expecting the canoes to be brought back : this 
place is a terrible marsh, and several of our people are suffering 
from ague. 
Sunday, September 7th . — Unable to bear this suspense any 
longer, and the canoes not arriving, I had the punt inflated for the 
use of the interpreter, Cheir Allah, the only man who could not 
swim, and with seven soldiers, capital swimmers and partially 
stripped, depositing firearms and ammunition in the punt, they 
started for Atwat, where I hoped they would hear tidings of the 
party who left on the 5th. Failing this, they were to endeavour to 
procure canoes for us at any cost, wherewith to carry our tents and 
remaining baggage. The day wore wearily away : my wife sat up 
for a short time, but on the fever returning was again prostrated. 
At five p.m. saw five canoes approaching, worked by our men, who 
had left on the 5th. Half an hour afterwards the poor fellows 
arrived, but in what a plight ! — heads bandaged, faces and arms 
bruised and cut, and all of a most dejected appearance. As I 
advanced to meet them, I cautioned every one likely to convey the 
bad news, which I knew I was to hear, to withhold it from my 
suffering wife. There had been a man to each canoe, viz., seven- 
teen, and counting but fifteen, and missing two of my oldest ser- 
vants, I asked where are Khalifa and Ahmed ? The low wail which 
answered my question told me that they were no more. Sobs 
