chap, xix.] START FROM BERBFR TO SOU AKIM. 
503 
Frenchmen may, when in need, receive the same kind¬ 
ness from my countrymen, when travelling in lands 
far distant from la belle France. 
I determined upon the Eed Sea route to Egypt, 
instead of passing the horrible Korosko desert during 
the hot month of August. After some delay I pro¬ 
cured camels, and started east for Souakim, from 
whence I hoped to procure a steamer to Suez. 
This route from Berber is not the usual caravan 
road : the country was in rather a disturbed state, 
owing to the mutiny of all the black troops in the 
Egyptian service in the Taka province ; and the Haden- 
dowa Arabs, who are at no time the best of their race, 
were very excited. The first eight days' journey are 
devoid of water, except at two stations,—the route 
being desert. Our party consisted of my wife, Eicharn, 
Achmet, and Zeneb ; the latter was a six-foot girl of 
the Dinka tribe, with whom Eicharn had fallen in love 
and married during our sojourn at Khartoum. Zeneb 
was a good girl, rather pretty, as strong as a giraffe, and 
a good cook ; a very valuable acquisition for Eicharn. 
Her husband, who had been my faithful follower, was 
now a rich man, being the owner of thirty napoleons, 
the balance of his wages. Achmet was an Egyptian 
servant, whom I had recently engaged in Khartoum. I 
had also offered a Swiss missionary the protection of 
our party. 
One day, during the heat of noon, after a long march 
in the burning sun through a treeless desert, we descried 
a solitary tree in the distance, to which we hurried as 
to a friend. Upon arrival, we found its shade occupied 
by a number of Hadendowa Arabs. Dismounting from 
our camels, we requested them to move and to give 
place for our party—as a tree upon the desert is like a 
well of water, to be shared by every traveller. Far 
from giving the desired place, they most insolently 
refused to allow us to share the tree. Upon Eicharn 
attempting to take possession, he was rudely pushed 
on one side, and an Arab drew his knife. Achmet had 
