506 LETTERS TO DR. FELKIN.

accomplished—but who will help us? Will your merchants, indeed, wait until it is too late? The cardinal question at the present time is, In my opinion, not the reoccupation of the Sudan, and money and men sacrificed for deserts and sands, but that we should be supported, and our country prevented from relapsing into barbarism and the slave-trade. Into whosoever hands this country falls, the northern Sudan —that is to say, Khartim, &c.—will naturally, after a time, give in its allegiance. But enough of this. You cannot think of the almost childish joy with which my people and I received the caravan from Uganda. At the same time, we are certainly proud of the way in which we have been able to help ourselves whilst cut off from all external supphes. I send you a sample of the beautiful pocket-handkerchiefs we have made from cotton that we planted and spun ourselves. I hope, too, you will like the shoes. Instead of sugar we use honey; instead of coffee, the seeds of a species of Hibiscus; instead of stearine, candles made of wax; soap has been made from tallow and the ashes of various trees. With meat, a few vegetables and oil procured from the semsem seed have prevented us from starving. The tobacco we are growing now is very good. And then, think of the Temperance Question. If Sir Wilfrid Lawson could only see us, he would take the oreatest pleasure in most of us. A hard time, truly, we have | had, and yet the hard time has been of some good, for the old proverb, “ Necessity is the mother of invention,’ has proved itself to be true even in our case. I am, notwithstanding, very thankful to God that the way to Uganda does seem to be rather more open; and it is to be hoped that, with plenty of ivory, and with the help of Mr. Mackay’s friendly services, I may be able to get enough cloth, &c., to clothe the wives and children of my poor people respectably. They have stuck bravely to me, and deserve, indeed, the best government. and help which could possibly be given them. .. . And now I must end. All my people send you their hearty greetings. They remember you everywhere, with affection.