354 ON THE KINGDOM OF DARFOUR.

Egyptian auxiliaries in his pay as long as he may deem their services necessary.

Should his wishes of rising to the throne of Darfur be fulfilled, as he confidently hopes, Europeans would gain considerably by this change in the government, for it would open a new path into the unexplored portions of Central Africa ; and much good may be, moreover, expected from his very excellent character. He has often told me himself, that he would receive an European, who would occupy himself with the civilization of his people, with open arms.* The following short anecdote may serve as a proof of the kindness of his disposition, and of the nobleness of his character.

During my sojourn in Lobeid, I had the opportunity of an introduction to Abumedina: he received my visit with great kindness and attention, and I passed for a considerable time some hours daily in his company .f Among my effects there happened to be a gun in the form of a walking-* At present any traveller might reach Darfour, but he would never return, because the reigning Sultan looks upon every white man as a spy of Mehemed Ali's. Mohammed Fadel's chief wish is .to have some European settlers in his country ; he even invited me through a Djelabi, to come ; for he is well aware that Mehemed Ali has set his eye upon Darfour. An European died eight years ago in that kingdom : he was a renegade, and stood very high in the favour of the Court. He has left two full-grown sons ; but I could neither discover his name, nor the country he came from.

t I have frequently dined at his table, and when I, on one of these occasions, observed no bread, and asked the reason, he an-