THE DINKA REVOLT. 453 interesting to find forms so far to the north which I have hitherto only seen in Monbuttu; the wooded margins of the brooks especially remind me of that country.

The comet year is not yet over. I hear from Lado that diluvial rains are continuing day and night without intermission, and in the south it must be still worse, if possible, for the Bahr-el-Jebel has overflowed its banks and flooded Ladé, just as In 1879, when the obstructions in the river cut us off from _ the world for nearly two years. God save us from a repetition of such misery !

The old zeriba, Sherif, now Gok-el-Hassan, has been burnt down, with all its inhabitants, and Hassan himself is slain. The Dinka seem to be in downright earnest this time. All the people from Sabi and Kanna have fled to our territory, and though I am glad of the addition to our strength, it is an unwelcome proof that the conflagration continues to spread. Our frontier districts are also disturbed, but we have at present no further misfortune to complain of.

A letter from Lupton Bey reached me just in the nick of time, before the way was closed, for all our communications with the Bahr-el-Ghazal are now interrupted, and may remain so for some time. He has sent me a new map of the territory under his command, based upon a large number of observations he has taken to determine the position of certain points, or, at any rate, their latitude. I am sending the original to Dr. Behm for publication, but I will take a copy for you as soon as I have time, and will enclose it in this letter. The names in their English form will no doubt puzzle you as much as myself. JI have only been able to recognise a few of them in their new dress, though for years I have been familar with names of places in this country. The hydrographical data, however, on this map are exceedingly interesting, and in many cases at variance with the views entertained at present. Lupton tells me that he has seen with his own eyes almost all that he has drawn, and I am really glad that he has been working so industriously. With the addition of your labours, and those of Junker and Casati, we might at last attain that great desideratum, a good map of Egypt’s Equatorial territory. In Government circles no interest seems to be taken in it, nor