a place
called Bookee, and carried in a ship to Jedda, and thence back to Koseir
and Keneh, where Palgrave bought him. I must say that once here the
slaves are happy and well off, but the waste of life and the misery
caused by the trade must be immense. The slaves are coming down the
river by hundreds every week, and are very cheap--twelve to twenty pounds
for a fine boy, and nine pounds and upwards for a girl. I heard that the
last _gellab_ offered a woman and baby for anything anyone would give for
them, on account of the trouble of the baby. By-the-bye, Mabrook
displays the negro talent for babies. Now that Achmet is gone, who
scolded them and drove them out, Mohammed's children, quite babies, are
for ever trotting after 'Maboo,' as they pronounce his name, and he talks
incessantly to them. It reminds me so of Janet and poor Hassan, but
Mabrook is not like Hassan, he is one of the sons of Anak, and already as
big and strong as a man, with the most prodigious chest and limbs.

Don't be at all uneasy about me as to care. Omar knows exactly what to
do as he showed the other day when I was taken ill. I had shown him the
medicines and given him instructions so I had not even to speak, and if I
were to be ill enough to want more help, Yussuf would always sit up
alternate nights; but it is not necessary. Arabs make no grievance about
broken rest; they don't 'go to bed properly,' but lie down half dressed,
and have a happy faculty of sleeping at odd times and anyhow, which
enables them to wait on one day and night, without distressing themselves
as it distresses us.

_Thursday_.--A telegram has just come announcing that Janet will leave
Cairo to-morrow in a steamer, and therefore be here, Inshallah, this day
week. I enclose a note from a Copt boy, which will amuse you. He is
'sapping' at English, and I teach him whenever I am able. I am a special
favourite with all the young lads; they must not talk much before grown
men, so they come and sit on the floor round my feet, and ask questions
and advice, and enjoy themselves amazingly. Hobble-de-hoy-hood is very
different here from what it is with us; they care earlier for the affairs
of the grown-up world, and are more curious and more polished, but lack
the fine animal gaiety of our boys. The girls are much more _gamin_ than
the boys, and more romping and joyous.

It is very warm now. I fear Janet will sigh terribly over the heat.
They have left their voyage t