Emin owed his elevation to the post of governor to Dr. Junker’s recommendation. Consequently the latter was very anxious to know what he had accomplished in the wilderness, so far away from civilization. As Emin conducted his guest to his private divan, it seemed to him a palace, though it would have been a very unassuming structure to us. It stood upon a plaza, on the bank of the Nile, in the form of a spacious, enclosed rectangle. On the east side, towards the river and also towards the north, was the house, surrounded by rows of dark green lemon trees, between the servants’ and watchmen’s cabins. On the west side of the plaza were two larger cabins and a great sun awning which made a most comfortable lodging for the traveller and his company. Emin’s house had doors and windows, but the entrances of the other dwellings were fitted with curtains. The houses were built of brick and stood in regular order upon broad streets which were intersected by narrower rectangular thoroughfares. The numerous huts of the natives were constructed of straw and palm leaves. These light buildings lasted only about three years, for termites[4] and borers were busied in their destruction day and night, and they were frequently destroyed by fire in the dry season. Emin could preserve his collections only by the most constant care. Thousands of stuffed birds, his papers, diaries, and provisions had to be guarded against indefatigable insects. The termites especially swarmed in the inner passageways of the house, infested the beds and shelves and made havoc with Emin’s stores. The arrangement of the divan was simple and recalled the comforts of home. A long massive work table was covered with writing materials, another with meteorological instruments and periodicals, and European chairs stood at each. At the side was a small library on shelves and upon several round iron tables were various useful articles, such as are common with us. All the tables had neat covers. In two corners were chests and cases and flowered curtains hung at the doors and windows. The morning hours were spent by the two friends in conversation, but the dinner with table napkins and changes of plate was so surprising to our traveller, unaccustomed to such luxury, that it nearly took away his appetite. One morning Emin invited his friend for a walk to his storehouse and the government garden, of which he was very proud. Countless lemon and banana trees, full of fruit, shaded the passageway. Bitter oranges, sweet lemons, oranges and pawpaws, which are somewhat like our melons, only sweeter, were also cultivated. White and yellow and exceedingly fragrant flowers and golden and red fruit shone in the dark foliage everywhere. Emin had also imported pomegranates, small fig trees, and grapevines. Of vegetables there were our cucumbers, several kinds of cabbage, all the Arabian vegetables, as well as the cassava, the sweet batata,[5] and sugar cane.