Seven Yeai's in the Soudan.

other European officers, even those who liad done far less than he, had been ])resented with the highest Egyptian decorations and largely rewarded, whilst there had fallen to him, perhaps because he was an Italian, the most insignificant of the honours and a present of only some hundred francs.

Gessi then left for Italy. He Avas received with festivities at Rome by the Italian G-eographical Society, and presented with the gold medal. He was decorated by King Victor Emmanuel, and gave a most successful public lecture, in which his lively manner and the originality of his observations on the countries he had visited, and on the future of the Soudan, were appreciated as they deserved.

But our Captain cared little for honours and a]ipUnise, lie only thought how to return to Egypt ; ill fact, in a very short time he collected 20,000 francs, and having engaged the services of the photographer Buchta, who afterwards earned fame in Central Africa, he started once more for the Soudan.

This expedition was quietly organized by Gessi, and no one knew its object. He wished to explore the valle}" of the Sobat, a river which has remained unknown to Europeans to the present day. The following letter will relate how this expedition was prevented : — " Cairo, " June 15th, 1877.

"To the Honourable President, " The Italian Geographical Society, Rome.

" Encouraged by the festive reception I met with from the eminent Geogra]ihical Society for the slight services rendered to science by my journeys in Central Africa, and the circumnavigation of the Albert Nyanza, and being also free from all obligation towards the Egjptian Government, I had