102 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

with ditches and small walls of six inches or one foot deep or high, but this is far from sufficient, and only by wisely regulated and extensive arrangements, could the power be attained of watering all at a wish, and only by proper machines for raising this wealth of nature from the subterraneous streams and reservoirs, could a certain and secure supply be depended on during the dry season of the year, for the crops which here require an ever copious and repeated supply of moisture. And why should not manufactures be introduced into a land where hands and wood are in plenty ? Everywhere at a greater or less depth clay is to be found in abundance, and out of this, from which the natives form good and lasting dishes and water jars, surely bricks could be made. The capital required for carrying out these plans indeed would be large, but then it would as surely be repaid, and with interest, in a very few years, and it would also call into existence a people and country, who, from agriculture, manufacture, and trade, would be entitled to rank among the most thriving.

cv. On our return to camp we were questioned by all, and about all, but most especially as to the numbers of the natives. In the evening we waited on the Pascha to report our return. He was also most curious and anxious to gain information, and to lead us to speak freely he again went over his before often declared magnificent plans for the future. His views as to the goodness of the land, and its fitness for growing all kinds of produce, as also of its happy position, were on the whole most just, only he allowed far too short a time for the realization of his ardent hopes, and would with too hasty zeal at once set about its improvement and alteration, only, like all Turks, the sooner to leave all off again. Even now, when as yet not a step had been taken, he set about counting up the sums he was to draw from these lands, for the Turk will hear or think of nothing else but gathering money in such sums as by cunning, injustice, oppression, or violence, he can lay his hands on, nor even trouble his head that in so doing he may ruin the future welfare of his subjects, and at the same time destroy all source of revenue to himself.

An idea, that has originated in the hatred borne by the races to each other, has been put into the Pascha's head by Mohammed Ehle. This is, that the fall of the waters can be cut off above the