458 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH, Things are going on very badly in the Bahr-el-Ghazal province; almost the entire northern half of the country is in open rebellion, and Lupton Bey has lost his best men in the repeated fights. He had never very many of them, but the worst part of it is, that the Danagla are in close communication with the Mahdi’s people in Kordofan. I quote the following words from Lupton (from Ganda, August 20, 188 3):—“The Arabs are, I am told, in company with Gallabas, determined to attack us at Dem Sebayr (Dem Zibér) as soon as Hareef is over. Slaves are bought and sold now for ammunition ; three packets will buy a boy, five a girl, two girls a Remington.” This gives a better idea of our circumstances than any description.

But it is not in the Bahr-el-Ghazal alone that the Negroes are disaffected ; things begin to look lively with us also. You know, from Baker’s book, about Chief Loron (Baker’s Alloron) and ‘his intrigues against the Government. Since the management of this province was given into my hands, I have endeavoured to make friends with this chief, and until now we have been on the best of terms. Nevertheless, he is again the guiding spirit of all the intrigues here, and only a few days ago he invited the chiefs of Belinian and Lokoya to make a combined attack on Ladé, as there were but few soldiers, and no ammunition there, which, alas, is only too true. We have held out so far, but it is very doubtful if we could resist a combined attack of all the Bari. The greater part of my men are in the Dinka district ; the rest are scattered over a country which extends from 8° to 2° N. lat. Assistance from Kharttm—well, you see well enough what that means. Old Mohammed Said Pasha and his men have been starved out, and have had to surrender to the Mahdi, because they were not supported from Khartim. It is doubtful whether Slatin is still alive. Lupton is almost deserted, and I have no arms and supplies.

I have had no news of Dr. Junker for a long time. Lupton informs me that transport of baggage to the Meshra is not to be thought of. I do not know what Junker will do now. Had he come here he might have gone to the south if necessary, for Kabréga would have sent him forward on my recommenda-