CHAP. IX.] 
KAT CHIBA'S POLITENESS. 
265 
we could not think of accepting it, as we had simply 
called upon him as friends ; he accordingly handed the 
sheep to his wife, and shortly after we rose to depart. 
Having effected an exit by creeping through the door¬ 
way, he led us both by the hand in a most friendly 
way for about a hundred yards on our path, and took 
leave most gracefully, expressing a hope that we should 
frequently come to see him. 
“ On our return home we found the sheep waiting for 
us; determined not to be refused, he had sent it on 
before us. I accordingly returned him a most gorgeous 
necklace of the most valuable beads, and gave the 
native who had brought the sheep a present for himself 
and wife; thus all parties were satisfied, and the sheep 
was immediately killed for dinner. 
“ The following morning Katchiba appeared at my 
door with a large red flag, made of a piece of cotton 
cloth that the Turks had given him ; he was accom¬ 
panied by two men beating large drums, and a third 
playing a kind of clarionet: this playing at soldiers 
was an imitation of the Turks. He was in great spirits, 
being perfectly delighted with the necklace I had sent 
him.” 
“ Oct. 6 th .—I have examined my only remaining 
donkey ! he is a picture of misery—eyes and nose 
running, coat staring, and he is about to start to join 
his departed comrades; he has packed up for his last 
journey. With his loose skin hanging to his withered 
frame he looked like the British lion on the shield over 
the door of the Khartoum consulate. In that artistic 
effort the lion was equally lean and ragged, having 
perhaps been thus represented by the artist as a pic¬ 
torial allusion to the smallness of the Consul's pay; 
the illustration over the shabby gateway utters, ‘ Be¬ 
hold my leanness ! 1501. per annum !' 
“ I feel a touch of the poetic stealing over me when 
I look at my departing donkey. e I never loved a dear 
gazelle/ &c.; but the practical question, ‘ Who is to 
carry the portmanteau V remains unanswered. I do 
