Miss Roper, who understands a few words of Rahaba's language, pointed to the sky, and told the mother that the great God loves little babies, and that he cares for slaves and loves those who are good and obedient. The poor girl folded her baby to her heart and shook her head sadly. The news seemed to her too good to be true. But Miss Roper tried again to make her believe it. All the rest of the time till the pioneers were ordered to march on, Rahaba and her sister negress crouched side by side in grief and despair. We could not comfort them, but we prayed that God would in his mercy bring them to know and love him and his Son Jesus Christ; and then they will be comforted for every sorrow. We rowed to Philæ, the sacred island of the ancient Egyptians, in the evening; but it was too late for us to stay amongst the ruins. Early the following morning we left Mahatta. The weather was warm and pleasant, and on the third day the scenery began to be lovely. On both sides the banks of the river were fringed with castor-oil plants and prickly mimosa; above these we saw plantations of dates and palms. The fruits of these trees are the chief food of the Nubians. We passed near the capital of Nubia without landing. It is a large town, and the streets are wide and busy. We still had the desert on our left, but it was partly hidden by the broken hills fringed with acacias. The mountain Gebel Derr projects into the river; and for nearly three hours we coasted under broken rocks which rise straight up from the Nile. [Illustration: RUINS OF COLONNADE AT PHILÆ.] After this we saw acacias on the left bank of the river, and on the right groves of palm-trees. There were numbers of peasants to be seen; some walking, some riding. The men wore long white dresses and turbans, the women blue gowns. The wind was fair, and we hastened on, passing some places where there were interesting ruins without stopping, and at last anchored here at Wadee Halfeh. Miss Roper has been even more diligent than before in trying to teach Rahaba, who has looked very sad ever since we left Mahatta. To-day Miss Roper has been telling her the story of our Saviour's birth, and of his being laid in a manger; and how he, the King of glory, came to suffer and die for us sinners. Rahaba listens, but she shakes her head. She tries to understand and learn anything that Miss Roper teaches her. But it is only to please her mistress that she does this; and as yet she is no nearer to being a Christian than when she was in her own country.