_Thursday, April 20th._—Midani and an Arab started this morning at an early hour ahead of the caravan for Souakim, to inform our friends of our arrival, and to prepare a place for us. We started at 5:30 A.M. The first object to attract our attention was the sea, the beautiful blue sea! What a thrill of joy that first sight of the sea sends through one coming from Central Africa! It is a bond of connection with the outer world. It is the highroad of commerce and civilization. It is the avenue of hope, and love, and life! As we approached Souakim we had fine views of the white, shining, coral city. It was not long before we discovered with our glasses a steamer lying in the harbor and another coming in. We took off our hats and hurrahed like school-boys. Soon a delegation of friends came out to meet us, among whom were M. Marquet’s son and Mr. Midani’s brother. At last we entered the city. Doctor’s camel was afraid, and had to be led in. We passed through the bazaars, and over the causeway, and through the big gate into the city proper, which is built on an island. The appearance of the town is quite dazzling, as every portion of it is built of white coral. We noticed some fine specimens in the walls as we passed. We went directly to M. Marquet’s new house, not yet finished, where camping room had been assigned us in the open yard, and here we sat down by the sea waiting for the caravan to arrive. Finally we retired into the entry of the unfinished house, where, as soon as our baggage arrived, we spread our cots, and took up our quarters, and paid off the camel drivers, who, for a wonder, went away contented. There has been rather a serious misunderstanding between some of our friends. It takes considerable self-control to keep quiet and calm and cool amid the discomforts and annoyances of a journey like this. Our first and great want was a bath, and this was soon arranged in one of the upper rooms of the new building. Then we put on some clean clothes, and felt as if we had been born again. We made several calls, and finally went, by invitation, to dinner at M. Marquet’s (brother of the gentleman of the same name at Khartoum), where we spent a very pleasant evening. A small steamer coming in to-day ran into our steamer of the Rubattino Line and broke her mast. There are three steamers now in harbor, an unusual thing for Souakim. We cannot sail before Saturday....