— // — that if we taxed the people too heavily they would break away from us, as they were not accustomed to such an imposition. It happened just as I had anticipated, and it was not long before the people chose the Emir Harun, grandson of the Sultan Mohammed el Fadl, as their king, and rebelled against the Government, harassing it for a long time. But the Governor was angry at my expressing an opinion, and spoke to me in no measured terms, saying that he knew quite well what he was doing. I then wrote officially to him, reiterating my opinion and disclaiming all responsibility, which I laid on his shoulders.

This letter enraged him still more, and he ordered me to go to the Bahr el Ghazal at once. I started immediately, and had only gone as far as Dara, when I received a telegram from His Highness the Khedive in Cairo ordering me not to interfere in the administration of the country. From this I gathered that the Governor had lodged a complaint with him, casting aspersions on my loyalty. It was even rumoured that I intended to become independent of the Government.