some French jewellery for a few coppers, as parting presents for each other, by way of "chaff"; and after seeing the town, ended the evening as usual seated round an empty ranch on the floor or on our boxes, and drank execrable tea, which tasted like hot brandy-and-water without sugar, and some beer presented to us by the great man of the place. As I was told he was very rich and stingy, I asked him to make me a present of a few bottles of beer for my party, as we were thirsty; but if I remember right, he sent me in a bill for it next morning.
In the morning we got a good ranch breakfast, during which we were visited by all the "swells" of Sahara. We set out for the river, where the canoes were. Two canoes were lashed together, boarded, and covered over with an awning just like a tent. There was a little brick stove, benches, and a writing-table erected. Richard and I went on board, and the young lady of the party, Miss Dundas, niece of "Uncle Brown," the before-mentioned "Padre Eterno," broke a bottle of caxassi over her bows, exclaiming, "Brig Eliza" whereby hangs an untold joke. Besides our own party, nearly all the village followed us. So there arose respectable cheers for the " Brig Eliza" "Captain and Mrs. Burton," "Success to the expedition," "The Superintendent and his wife," "Prosperity to Sahara," "The Emperor of Brazil," "The Queen of England," with many vivas. We then took all our own party on board, and sent the animals forward to meet us, and shoved off. There were two blacks in the stern, and two in the bows to paddle and pole, and one black
