86 Seven Years in the Soudan.

was made obligator} to evacuate these settlements within eight months, after which interval of time the ivory was confiscated for the benefit of the Government.

These measures of the Colonel, taken with a view of facilitating for the merchants their obedience to the orders of Government, without too much loss to themselves, caused nevertheless the loss of a whole year's taxes to the Government. Besides this, by suppressing the seribe, the natural centres for obtaining provisions, the expenses of our expedition, in a country so vast, and distant from any commercial centre, assumed gigantic proportions.

Money was useless, not being current there, and it was therefore necessary to import an infinite number of things, which, b}' their weight and size, formed a cargo for several steamers. Besides these objects, it Avas necessary to provide also food, clothing, and military materials. All this quantity of things was easily spoiled in a short period, and it was necessary to renew it from time to time, especialh' because of the want of proper magazines, the torrents of rain, and the damages done by the white ants.

In the Bahr-el-Zeraf existed two settlements of Kushuk Ali and Gatasc. These latter did not pay any attention to the orders of Government, that they were to evacuate them and abandon the country, so that the Colonel was obliged to go there in person.

These establishments were fortified by solid palisades and entrenchments, and Gordon threatened to set fire to the village, if at the expiration of eight months they had not left. The merchants were then warned not to carry away slaves, because the authorities of Fashoda already knew of their intention to do so, and if they were discovered in the act, it would cause their complete ruin. Kushuk Ali and his partner protested they had no slaves, while the Colonel knew from certain sources of information