420 | THE SLAVE QUESTION.

3. ON THE SLAVE QUESTION.

(From a Letter to Dr. G. Schweinfurth, dated Lado, December 25, 1881.)

HORTICULTURE IN LADO—THE FIRST STEAM-ENGINE IN THE HEART OF AFRICA—ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCE—BUDGET SUR-PLUSES—THE SLAVE QUESTION—DR. JUNKER’S OBSERVATIONS—DON-GOLAUI OUTRAGES.

JUST imagine! Our garden already yields to the Government nearly a thousand piastres monthly from vegetables and other produce. ‘This is encouraging, is it not? We have just commenced irrigation by means of a steam-engine, which I asked for from Khartum—the first engine at work in the heart of Africa. Now every one wishes to lay out a garden. My absence from here was prolonged for more than three months during my tour of inspection through the old mudirié of Rol, where I finally suppressed the shamefully conducted slave-trade. I am therefore rather behind-hand with my work here, but I will soon make up for lost time. I venture to enclose some notes of this last journey, and you are at liberty to make what use you please of them. I can vouch for the scrupulous accuracy of the facts recorded. You will see from them that till now many things have been put up with which should not have been allowed. I have great doubts as it is whether my efforts in this direction will meet with approval in Khartum, for energetic measures hardly seem to be in favour there. I have received a hint privately that, if I like to go there for a few days, there is nothing to prevent me (I have not been there since May 1877); I will, however, carefully consider the matter. I am thinking of a certain gift of Danaiis, and am too well acquainted with the Sudan and its ways to suppose that I can be a persona grata. Otherwise I am quite satisfied with the consideration shown me. Butif I must confess the truth, I believe that no good can be done until this province is separated from the central Government and made quite independent, as it was in the days of Gordon and Baker. It is better not to write at all, when I have to wait five months for