ABYSSINIANS.
Saturday, Dec. 31.—The order from Raouf Pasha has arrived; the dahabeah is ours! and besides the order came a separate telegram of welcome to the Soudan. Surely we could not ask to have things in better shape. In a few moments the dahabeah is moored in front of our tents, and the Reis reports to us for orders. We have had some business with the Sheik to-day. Our boxes were badly broken up on the desert through carelessness, and after repeated warnings, and before we pay the remainder of the camel money we propose to have the drivers mend those boxes in a proper manner. They refuse; and there are high words and loud talking. The Sheik comes. We explain to him the position of affairs, and tell him that as we expect to travel through this country more than once, we want it fully understood how we intend to travel. He says it shall be done as we say, and orders the carpenter to be called. He comes, and the drivers dismiss him and clamor for their money. Not a para until those boxes are mended! After a time another carpenter is brought who patches up the boxes, but we refuse to accept the work, and insist on having it done over, and done properly. At last, after considerable growling, it is done, and we offer them the remainder of the amount agreed upon at Korosko. They refuse to take it, demanding nearly twice as much. We go to Sheik Hassan Halifa with it, state the case, and offer the money. He obliges the men to take it, and we come off with the respect of the whole crowd! It is the only way to do in a country like this! We have visited the bazaar, which is quite extensive. We have paid our respects to the Governor, who, now that we have carried our point, is more polite than ever. We have also had a number of calls. We have posted off a big batch of letters, got our washing and our marketing done, so to-morrow, being the Sabbath, we work till late and go on board the dahabeah by moonlight. Mousa goes to the town, gets drunk, and is returned by the police. We give him to understand most plainly that if we observe anything out of the way with him again he will be put ashore and left there, as we cannot and will not have anyone with us who will in any way be a reproach to our party. We are eager now to reach Khartoum. We have been wonderfully prospered thus far, and things look bright ahead. God grant that the New Year, so soon to dawn, may be as rich with His favor and blessing as the old, which is now passing away! The promises are many, and we can go cheerfully forward.
Sunday, Jan. 1, 1882.—Happy New Year! We are on board the government dahabeah, ready to start for Khartoum. Our boat is moored to the upper landing to receive her provisions. At last everything was ready. The noise and confusion at the landing was so great that toward night, for the sake of a little quiet, and to hasten forward on this, the Lord’s business, we allowed the men to spread the sail, and soon left Berber and the noisy rabble on the bank in the distance, the solitary minaret being the last object seen. There is a village nearly opposite, but a little above Berber, called Sheik Abdel Medjid, whence the caravans start for Dongola. We met three men in Berber worthy of mention. They were the governor, Ibrahim Bey; the chief of police, Mohamed Effendi, and Sheik Hassan Halifa. We took a great fancy to this last man, more for what he is in himself than for his family history, which is full of interest. We have sailed only a short distance, as we have been obliged to tie up for the night on account of rapids in the stream and lightness of the wind. We number on board 16 people all told. One is a comely black girl, who does the cooking for the sailors. Her natural graces of person are untrammeled by the conventionalities of civilized life. She wears only a scant rag about her waist. All the boats on the river here have one or more of these women, who grind the durra on flat stones and cook for the men. We have decided not to put up our flag, but to sail under the Egyptian colors, as this is a government boat, and ours for the time only through the kindness of Raouf Pasha. New Year’s Day on the Nile! How many thoughts of home and loved ones have crowded upon us as we have been lounging on deck in the bright moonlight. God bless us all, and give us a truly Happy New Year!