Bahr el Ghazal Country. Ill The whole of these four former mudiriehs west of the White Nile are now generally termed the " Bahr el Ghazal Country."

{a) Bahr el Ghazal (Mudirieh). Some of the earliest settlements of the slave and ivory History, trade were in Darfertit, the most western part of the province. These settlements were made by small resident traders known as Kalabas, who paid taxes to the native chieftains of the Krej (or Kreish) tribe.

About the year 1854, trading companies from Khartum began to arrive, and, accompanied by armed bands of Nubians, established stations all over the country, which became the hotbed of the slave trade. • The country of the Bongo (or Dohr) became their headquarters. This is one of the largest tribes, agricultural and industrious in their habits, and, being easily subdued, it was soon bound down into vassalage and slavery by the slave dealers. The position of the Bongo country likewise favoured these settlements, as it was no great distance from Meshra er B-ek, the highest navigable point on the Bahr el Ghazal.

The smaller neighbouring tribes of the Jur, Dembo, and Golo, were soon reduced to vassalage in like manner, and the traders then established their out-stations at a greater distance towards the south-east in the Mittu country, &c. But to the north-east they could make no impression on the Dinka, protected by their impenetrable marshes, and were more unsuccessful still against the numerous, powerful, and warlike nation of the Niam-Niam (Azande) lying to the south-west.

About the year 1870, the Egyptian Government undertook the administration of the province, with the avowed object of putting down the slave trade. The administrators, however, and the officers of the troops sent for the purpose, instead of carrying out this object, became themselves not only the open abettors, but also the most energetic traders.

It was not till 1878-79 that the country was opened up, and the nefarious traffic put an end to by Gessi.

In the meantime, what had once been a thriving population, living in a fertile country, and possessed of flocks and herds, was reduced to starvation and misery. By