Gessi's Campaign. 167 He occupied the time in regenerating the province, which he found labouring under gross abuses and a staff of corrupt officials.

He was at length able to leave Rumbek on the 17th f8°™mber> November, and, after having met with some hostility from the natives on the River Jur, arrived at the Wau cm 5th December, where he established a station. He found Suliman had carried off upwards of 10,000 women and children, and the inhabitants about Wau were greatly incensed against the slave dealers. Having received reinforcements and been joined by a friendly Sheikh, Gessi marched for Dem Idris, which he reached about the middle of December. Saliman was on his way towards an Shakka, thinking himself protected by the floods from an Gessi, 28th attack from the south, but hearing of Gessi's arrival at 5 ) 8 e 7 c 9 ember ' Rumbek he at once turned to attack him with 10,000 men. The attack took place on the 28th December, but was repulsed with great loss after severe fighting. On 12th January, 1879, Suliman, having been reinforced, t c a ° c d 12fch again assaulted Gessi's post, and after two days' heavy January, fighting was again driven back. Gessi in the meantime 18 ' 9 -was running very short of ammunition, but in spite of this repulsed a third attack on the 28th and 29th of ™r* a ?»Sft January. On 11th March, having received some ammuni- January, tion, he attacked the stronghold of Suliman, which was 1879 * constructed of wooden huts and barricades made of trunks attacks of trees. Having set fire to the whole by means of rockets, Suliman, , he met and utterly routed the brigands as they sallied out, but had not sufficient ammunition to pursue them. By the beginning of February, Gessi had cleared off many of the slave dealers, and had liberated more than 10,000 of their captives ; the result being that confidence was being rapidly restored, and the headmen of tribes were giving their allegiance to the Government.

On 1st May Gessi, having received farther reinforce- n fk* ments, marched on Dem Suliman, which he took by by Gessi, assault three days later, capturing much booty. Suliman i880May' himself escaped, and took refuge in a village some distance off. On the 9th May Gessi, with 600 men, started m pursuit, and after nine days' absence returned to Dem Suliman in triumph, having taken many of the slave dealers, although Suliman, with Rabeh and Sultan Idris, two noted leaders, had escaped.