— ;6 — to his own country. Finally he gave instructions for the erection of a large market at El Fasher, and the natives returned to follow their wonted occupations. After the country was thus pacified he divided the kingdom into the four districts of El Fasher, Dara, Kalkul or Kebkebia, and Um Shanaga, as had been the case before the conquest. In the two districts of Dara and Kalkul he had forts built on the same lines as those of El Fasher: in each district he placed two battalions of regulars under six captains from the Shaigia irregulars, Turks, and people from the west, as well as six pieces of cannon. As for the district of Um Shanaga, owing to the fact that it was near El Obeid he only had an establishment of two companies of regulars, with two Officers, and one company of irregulars, also uwder the command of a captain.

TAXATION OF THE PEOPLE.

At the beginning of the year 1875, Ismail Pasha instituted a poll-tax of the people, each man paying fifty piastres, except the well-to-do who had to pay more in proportion to their means. Knowing that this tax would bear heavily on the people, and that they would not tolerate it, I sugsested to the Governor that he should make the tax one of from two to five piastres, saying I was afraid