Starting from Germany, the hunters used to take a complete outfit of
clothing and firearms, gifts for the chiefs, and from seven to twelve
thousand dollars in drafts and letters of credit. They would go to
Trieste, thence to Corfu, in Greece, thence to Alexandria, and by rail
to Suez. There they would exchange their money for Austrian silver
dollars, the only coin known to the Arabs and sheiks of Africa. A Bank
of England note was valueless to them, and the brightest specimen of an
American gold eagle would not buy the meanest ring-tailed monkey. They
next took the Turkish steamer to Judda and thence to Sarachin, the last
station before they commenced their long, tiresome and dangerous march
across the Nubian Desert. For this undertaking they bought camels,
water and provisions, and hired such of the sheiks and other natives as
they needed, the latter being cheap enough, generally costing five
dollars, and occasionally seven dollars, each for the trip across the
desert. When the caravan arrived at its destination the poor fellows
were left to get back as best they could. In this manner they traveled
to Honiahn, the principal station of the company in Africa, where the
distinctions of caste are strictly maintained.