326 DESCRIPTION OF A SLAVE -HUNT.

CHAPTER XVII.

DESCRIPTION OF A SLAVE -HUNT IN THE YEARS 1838 AND 1839.

Towards the end of the year 1838 the Viceroy commanded the province of Kordofan to contribute five thousand slaves. The corjDS under orders for this purpose, consisting of two thousand four hundred infantry, seven hundred and fifty Mogghrebeen (Bedouin horsemen), two hundred men irregular cavalry, three hundred dromedary riders, and twelve hundred natives armed with spear and shield, and attended by three guns, set out upon the march towards the close of the month of November 1838. On this occasion every two men of infantry were furnished with one camel, as they could not collect the complement very soon, and an immense number was, moreover, required for the transport of the baggage, water, tents, etc., for the troops. Provisions and forage for the cattle, both for service and for slaughter, were only added to the transport sufficient for a few days, for they hoped to be able to obtain the necessary supply in a short time by plunder and pillage. A hill, one of the nearest on the borders of the free Nuba, which had already