French and Oriental Love in a Harem

"In returning from Japan," he said, "I must tell you that I put in at

Java. Of course I landed there. On the pier-head, I recognised Lefébure,

a sea-captain and an old friend of mine; he had given up navigation in

order to marry a mulattress there, who keeps a tobacco-shop. I said to

him 'Hullo, how are you?' He embraces me and answers that he is very

dull. 'Dull?' I reply, 'well, come along with me to Toulon for a few

days; my ship is in the harbour here, I will give you a berth in her,

and send you home next month by "The Belle-Virginie!" My proposal

delights him, but his answer is that it is impossible. 'Impossible?

Why?' 'Because I have a wife who would not hear of it!' 'We must see

about that,' I say to him. Well, we go to their shop; the wife makes a

scene, cries and screams, calling him all sorts of names, and they fight

over it. At last, while they are taking a moment's rest, I add that I

shall weigh anchor at six o'clock in the evening. 'I will wait for you

until five minutes past six,' I say; and then I go off to my business.

At six o'clock I weighed anchor, and began to tack about a bit. At 6:10

I was off, when I saw a barque approaching. I gave the order 'Stop her.'

It was Lefébure, who was making signs to us to stop. He comes up, gets

on board, and off we go."

Fifteen days after that we put in at Ceylon for a few hours. On the

twenty-sixth day, as we arrived in sight of Aden, we observed a good

deal of movement in the harbour. There was an English man-of-war

displaying an admiral's flag, which they were saluting. On shore I

learnt that she was carrying a Commission sent out to make some

diplomatic representations to the Negus of Abyssinia. And who should I

meet but Captain Picklock, one of my old friends whose acquaintance I

made at Calcutta, where he was in one of the native regiments. He

informed me that he was in command of the escort accompanying the

envoys. I said to Lefébure 'By the by, the Negus owes me some

money--shall we go and make a trip there?' Lefébure replied, 'By all

means let us!' I bought four horses and half-a-dozen camels, which I

sent on board with my provisions; and we started with the envoys. We had

some amusement on the way. I knew the country very well myself, but when

we were half-way, at Adoua, where we halted for half a day, Lefébure

picks up with an Arab woman. He wants to stay with her until the next

day, and says to me, 'Go on with the captain; I will join you again

to-morrow with the convoy of baggage.' I started off accordingly. Next

day, no Lefébure. That annoyed me rather, because he had kept the

camels. However, I continued my journey, thinking that I should find him

again on my return. Finally I arrived at the Negus's capital, just in

time to hear that they were on the point of dethroning him. My intention

was to apply to the English commissioners to help me in getting my

little business settled. I found, however, that my portfolio and papers

were with Lefébure, who had the baggage; fortunately, I still had the

gold which I carry in my belt. Then I naturally availed myself of this

opportunity to go off and wander about the interior, as far as Nubia,

where I had some acquaintances. I commissioned Captain Picklock to tell

Lefébure to come on and join me at Sennaar, with the camels. So off I

go, and arrive in ten days' time at Sennaar, where I find the King of

Nubia, who was not very happy about the political situation; he treats

me very hospitably, and I buy ivory and ostrich feathers of him.