CUSTOMS IN DAEFOUR. 211 The slave trade until lately was the chief occupation of the inhabitants. In former times large expeditions used to proceed from Darfour across the Bahr-el-Arab into the interior, returning with a rich booty of slaves and a small quantity of ivory.

Those who remained at home were engaged meanwhile in preparing stores of food for the expected caravans, looking more especially after the water supply, and this in these arid regions entailed severe labour. It cannot be said that blackmail was levied in the villages through which the parties of slaves passed, or that a regular price was paid for food by the slave-drivers. The Mohammedan religion, which enjoins hospitality, forbids this ; but its adherents are not required to refuse the presents offered to them ; it is therefore probable that a very fair equivalent was given for the food which was provided at the various halting-places. When, however, a caravan came to a place under military occupation, the commander of the soldiers exacted a toll of from a quarter of a dollar to two dollars a head, which he considered his due. It will be seen that it is in the interests of the inhabitants of Darfour to encourage, as far as possible, this nefarious traffic ; and though at the time we were in the province—that is, in January 1880—there were only a few small caravans passing through from Bornu, this was owing to the demolition of Suleiman Bey and his forces, and the vigorous efforts of Gessi Pasha and Slatin Bey to prevent a revival of the slave razzias.