_Saturday, Jan. 7._—Fine breeze. Sailed at good speed. The banks here were lower, and the river broader. Low hills to the right. We were approaching Khartoum. There were several islands, and then we got a long view up the White Nile. We rounded the point of a large island, and turned into the clearer waters of the Blue Nile. The flags were up, and we expected to sail into Khartoum in grand style, but the wind was so strong from the north that we had to be towed up along the steep southern bank. We went bumping along, running into everything that it was possible to run into, amid a babel of sounds. Everybody seemed to think it necessary to yell at everybody else. Amid the confusion, as we were coming smash down upon another boat, Ibrahim called to two well-dressed young fellows, who were lounging on the other boat, to help push off. They heard, but were too lazy to move. He waited till he was near enough, and then suddenly pounced upon them with his stick, and dealt them several sharp blows. One fled precipitately one way, and the other jumped into the river. I did not know but he would drown, but he soon reached the bank, where the crowd had a good laugh at his expense. All along the shore native women, with only a rag on, were washing clothes; some without a rag on were washing themselves. Finally we reached our landing-place, and tied up. We had reached Khartoum at last! The American consul, a rich, one-eyed Copt, stood on the bank waiting for us. He soon came on board. Congratulations and compliments were exchanged. He offered to do anything and everything for us. We told him the first thing we wanted was our letters. They were sent for at once. I had seven! We sat right down and devoured them. Not a word had we heard since leaving Cairo, and now here was a feast. Better than cold water to a thirsty soul was the good news from home. We went, at the consul’s invitation, to see the quarters he had kindly provided for us in one of his own houses. The rooms were really very nice for this country. On the whole, our first impressions of Khartoum were very pleasant. There was no apparent reason why it should not be healthy if properly cared for. The desert stretched away on all sides, both on the north and south banks of the Blue Nile. There seemed to be considerable business along the river bank. There were crowds of merchant boats loading and unloading. There were eight steamers lying here. We noticed a number of very good buildings facing the river. We have just heard of a formidable insurrection south of here, on the White Nile, and in the vicinity of Fashoda, in which 600 or more soldiers have already been killed. After returning to our dahabeah, the consul sent us a present of oranges, pomegranates and milk. After a while he called again with several others. He certainly showed himself very anxious to please us. He has placed his house at our disposal, free of charge, for any length of time we choose to occupy it. He and his suite waited for