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invariably distinguished cocks and hens as 〃bulls〃 and 〃women。〃
The last and the smallest boy of the household was little Cuckoo （or
Kookoo）。
Cuckoo was a sturdy child of about six years old： this boy had； I
believe； run away from his parents in the Bari during the war； and had
come to Morgian our interpreter； when food was scarce among the tribe。
Following the dictates of his appetite； he had been attracted by the
savoury smell of Abdullah's kitchen； and he had drawn nearer and nearer
to our establishment； until at length by playing with the boys； and
occasionally being invited to share in their meals； Cuckoo had become
incorporated with the household。
Abdullah and the six boys formed the native domestic corps。 My wife； who
was their commanding officer； had them all dressed in uniform。 They had
various suits of short； loose trousers reaching half…way down the calf
of the leg； with a shirt or blouse secured at the waist with a leather
belt and buckle。 These belts were made in England； and were about six
feet long； thus they passed twice round the waist； and were very useful
when travelling； in case of a strap and buckle being required suddenly。
Each boy wore the fez or tarboosh。 The uniforms were very becoming。
There was dark blue trimmed with red facings； pure white with red
facings； for high days and holidays； scarlet flannel suits complete； and
a strong cotton suit dyed brown for travelling and rough wear。
The boys were trained to change their clothes before they waited at the
dinner table； and to return to their working dresses after dinner when
washing up was necessary。 In this habit they were rigidly particular；
and every boy then tied his dinner suit in a parcel； and suspended it to
the roof of his hut to be ready for the next meal。
There was a regular hour for every kind of work； and this domestic
discipline had so far civilized the boys that they were of the greatest
possible comfort to ourselves。
The washing up after dinner was not a very long operation； as half a
dozen plates and the same number of knives and forks； with a couple of
dishes； were divided among six servants。
Directly after this work； play was allowed。 If the night were moonlight；
the girls were summoned； and dancing commenced。 During the day； their
games were either playing at soldiers； or throwing lances at marks； &c。
Thieving was quite unknown among the boys； all of whom were scrupulously
honest。 The sugar might be left among them； or even milk； but none of
the boys I have mentioned would have condescended to steal。 They had
been so well instructed and cared for by my wife； that in many ways they
might have been excellent examples for lads of their class in England。
The girls and women did not appear to so much advantage。 These comprised
old Karka； young Dam Zeneb； Sallaamto； Fad…el…Kereem； Marrasilla； and
Faddeela。 They had learnt to wash； but could never properly fold the
linen。 Ironing and starching were quite out of the question； and would
have been as impossible to them as algebra。 Some of these girls were
rather pretty； and they knew it。 In moral character Dam Zeneb and
Sallaamto were the best。 Fad…el…Kereem was the most intelligent； but she
was a young woman of strong passions； either for love or war； and
required peculiar management。
They were all dressed in similar uniforms to the boys； with only a
slight difference in the length of their blouses。
We had sent little Mostoora to the care of Djiaffer Pacha at Khartoum to
be educated； before we left Tewfikeeyah。 That clever little creature had
learnt English and Arabic sufficiently to converse； and although not far
removed from infancy； she was more intelligent than any of the adults。
She was much too young for a long voyage 。 。 。 Everything was ready for
the start。 I left written instructions with the colonel； Raouf Bey； also
with Mr。 Higginbotham； respecting the conduct of the works during my
absence。 I also gave the necessary orders to Mr。 Marcopolo； thus all
heads of departments knew their positions。
I sent off a detachment of 150 men to drive a herd of several thousand
cattle and sheep to a well…known rocky ravine； about six miles south；
which was to be the rendezvous。
Before leaving； I made rather a pretty shot with the 〃Dutchman〃 from the
poop…deck of my diahbeeah at a crocodile basking on a sand…bank。 The
first shot through the shoulder completely paralyzed it。 A second bullet
from the left…hand barrel struck only three inches from the first。
Lieutenant Baker determined to measure the distance； thus he took the
boat with the end of a long line； and we found it exactly 176 yards。
The 〃Dutchman〃 was the best rifle I ever shot with； and was quite
invaluable throughout the expedition。
I had served out a month's rations to the men； and my last instructions
to Raouf Bey were to look well after Livingstone； and provide for his
comfort should he appear during my absence。
On 22nd January； 1872； we started at 8 a。m。； when I took leave of my
good friend and excellent engineer…in…chief； Mr。 Edwin Higginbotham。 I
little thought that we should never meet again。
The wind was light and variable； and my diahbeeah soon overtook the
heavier vessels。 In the evening we all joined and concentrated our
forces at the rocky ravine； with the detachment that protected the
cattle。
On the following day； the 23rd January； we all started in excellent
spirits。 The soldiers knew the country； and every one appeared to share
the enjoyment of adventure。 The people had learnt to depend upon my
guidance； and although the interior of the country was unknown to them；
they were quite contented that I had had a personal experience of the
far south； and they were safe in my hands。
The stream was very powerful； and the wind was so variable that it was
necessary to tow the vessels。 This would have been easy work if the
river had been deep in all parts； but unfortunately the water was rather
low； and many extensive sandbanks necessitated long detours。
The men were then obliged to wade hip…deep； and to tow the vessels round
the banks。
I never saw the people in such high spirits。 They were not contented
with a walking pace； but they raced with each other； splashing through
the water； and hurrying round the points of the sand…banks； until they
once more reached dry ground。 Then even the women and boys jumped
ashore； and laying hold of the tow…rope； joined the men in singing； and
running forward along the hard bank they made the diahbeeah surge
through the water。
This fun had continued for some hours； and I rejoiced that all hearts
seemed to have at length united in the work。 I had no fanatics with me。
The black officers were excellent fellows now that they were relieved
from a certain influence at head…quarters。 Abd…el…Kader was as true as
gold。 Monsoor was a Christian；and my 〃Forty Thieves〃 were stanch；
brave fellows who would go through fire。
Ali Nedjar was； as usual； revelling in strength and activity； and was
now foremost in the work of towing the diahbeeah。
A sudden bend in the river had caused a small sand…bank。 It was
necessary to descend from the high shore to tow the vess