Conquest of Darfur. 151 The results of the nine months' work are summed up by the Egyptian General Staff* as follows :— 1st. The White Nile had been mapped with very considerable accuracy from Khartum to Regaf by Lieutenants 0. M. Watson and Chippendall, R.B. 2nd. The slave trade on the White Nile had received a deadly blow.

3rd. Confidence and peace had been restored among the tribes round Gondokoro, who now freely brought in for sale their beef, corn, and ivory.

4th. The work of opening a water communication between Gondokoro and the lakes had been seriously commenced.

5th. Communications had been established with M'tesa and the connection of Lake Victoria with Lake Albert, by way of the Victoria Nile, demonstrated.

6th. Government districts had been formed and secure posts with intercommunication established.

7th. New expeditions were organised and ready to commence.

Conquest of Darfur, 1874.

During the year 1874 an important addition was made Conquest of to the Egyptian possessions in the shape of the Province f8 ur ' of Darfur.

Gordon writes :—" Dar For and Dar Fertit mean the land of the Fors and the land of the Fertits. The Fors and the Fertits were the original negro inhabitants; then came in the Beduin tribes, who partially conquered the country and made the Fors Mussulmans, giving them a Sultan. The Fors and the Beduin tribes, the one stationary and the other nomadic, live in peace, for their habits are different."

The country of Darfur had never been subjugated, but had been governed by its own Sultans in unbroken succession for more than 400 years. The inhabitants were not of the true negro type, and the numerous wandering Arab tribes paid tribute to the Sultan and formed the bulk of his fighting men. Darfur enjoyed a celebrity not only as a centre of commerce, but also as a large slave * "Prpvinces of the Equator," published by the Egyptian General Staff.