QUARTERED IN THE ''PALACE: ders. This road follows the banks of the Nile to Wady Halfah : it is chiefly made use of by caravans coming from Darfour and Kordofan, provinces to the west of the White Nile, that produce great quantities of gum. The Nile is struck at a small village called Debbe, about latitude i8° north, whence goods are conveyed by boats as far as Dongola, where the cataracts render farther navigation impossible ; and then camels carry them to Wady Halfah at the second cataract. The journey is then resumed in boats to the first cataract, where a railway five miles in length carries the goods below the cataract to other boats waiting for Cairo or Alexandria.

The Egyptian government had just separated the Red-Sea ports Souakim and Massouah, together with the country between them, and Cassala, Sanheit, the town of Cassala itself, Gedariff, the Hamran country, Gallabat and neighbouring jDrovinces, from the rest of the Soudan. Ala-ed-Deen Pacha, who had been for a long time governor of different parts of this country, was made supreme governor ; and Ali Reza Pacha, formerly governor of the Red-Sea ports, was deposed. The latter was much hated by the people. Our steamer brought this news to the inhabitants of Souakim ; and, Ala-ed-Deen being much liked, the people testified to their joy at this change of government by getting up an inipromptu illumination, chiefly by means of little oil-lamps which they hung in front of their houses. We were very glad to be able to live in the "palace," during our stay at Souakim, instead of being obliged to live in tents, as it rained more or less every day. We were given two rooms on the first floor, in one of which we slept, while the other was assigned to our servants and luggage. Our meals we took either on the verandah, — which was very broad, and looked on to the sea, — or in the large passage, or rather hall, out of which our rooms opened. Although every thing was open, the huge