376 
HARD FARR 
[CHAF. X1ID. 
enjoy a mixture of porridge and legumes d la sauce 
piquante. They were astonished at my falling away 
on this food, but they yielded to my argument when 
I suggested that a “ lion would starve where a donkey 
grew fat.” I must confess that this state of existence 
did not improve my temper, which, I fear, became 
nearly as bitter as the porridge. My people had a 
windfall of luck, as Saat’s ox, that had lingered for a 
long time, lay down to die, and stretching himself out, 
commenced kicking his last kick ; the men immedi¬ 
ately assisted him by cutting his throat, and this 
supply of beef was a luxury which, even in my hungry 
state, was not the English beefsteak for which I 
sighed ; and I declined the diseased bull. 
The men made several long excursions through the 
country to endeavour to purchase provisions, but in 
two months they procured only two kids ; the entire 
country was deserted, owing to the war between Kam- 
rasi and Fowooka. Every day the boy Saat and the 
woman Bacheeta sallied out and conversed with the 
inhabitants of the different islands on the river ; some¬ 
times, but very rarely, they returned with a fowl ; 
such an event caused great rejoicing. 
We had now given up all hope of Gondokoro, and 
were perfectly resigned to our fate ; this, we felt sure, 
was to be buried in Chopi. I wrote instructions in 
my journal, in case of death, and told my headman 
to be sure to deliver my maps, observations, and 
papers to the English Consul at Khartoum ; this was 
my only care, as I feared that all my labour might 
be lost should I die. I had no fear for my wife, as 
she was quite as bad as I, and if one should die, 
the other would certainly follow ; in fact, this had 
been agreed upon lest she should fall into the hands 
of Kamrasi at my death. We had struggled to win, 
and I thanked God that we had won ; if death were 
to be the price, at all events we were at the goal, 
and we both looked upon death rather as a pleasure, 
as affording rest; there would be no more suffering; 
