The freeing of slaves was a matter of great concern, and it was undoubtedly a source of resentment for this group, especially since the ones carrying out the freeing of slaves were Europeans. Due to their intense hatred for this group, they attributed it to bad intentions and thought it was a form of persecution by the Christians against the Muslims. The Sheikh understood from those around him that the issue of freeing slaves was not based on any laws, but rather on a religious persecution similar to what befell the Muslims of Al-Andalus.

I tried to dissuade him from this opinion, so he fell silent and pretended ignorance. I said to him: "This is a grave matter."

During the reign of Ismail Pasha, the systems by which the councils operated were disrupted and manipulated. He appointed members to the councils, which were founded in the year [year missing], from among the men of Sudan, who knew nothing but the trade of gum and textiles, and entrusted the leadership to men who did not understand a single word of the laws that constituted the council.

Most of the time, they were illiterate, and cases were not decided for a long time, so the litigants would negotiate through bribery. The council members were eager and insistent on prolonging the interrogation, so they followed their opponent's lead and offered money, and the corruption would be accepted. And so it continued until the expenses were met, and they would reconcile.

As for the administrative rulers, most of them were from the local people, and they were the cause of all ruin and the origin of all injustices. They used to buy positions with money, and therefore they saw no alternative but to recoup what they had spent, with added profits. There is no doubt that those who benefited from the rulers did not heed any complaints from those oppressors, as long as they had received a hefty bribe.

The mismanagement of affairs reached such a point that demands for tax payment were permissible.