164 Seven Years in the Soudan.

couiitiy, and we much hoped to see some of these ])eople, -with wliom to form friendship and ailiance. But now things are clianged. For about a year the Gallas have abandoned this market, and we could not have found one had we paid for it. It was the fault of tlie Arab Wadilotta, who, crossing the passes of Fadasi, carried on war with the Galla of Ganti, intending to subdue them to his rule. We hope, however, to find numerous caravans of Gallas at Fadasi, A\hich place, starting to-day, we calculate in reaching in four days ; there we shall immediately investigate the question of the river Yabus, the course of which is the cause of controversy among geographers. If the Aman Xegroes will only afford us a little insight, we shall be able to say whether the Yabus flows to the Sobat, as Marno believes, or discharges itself into the Blue Nile, as Petermann seems to think. We shall also organize a caravan to march by long daj's' journe3's to Affile, where Ave hope to obtain exact news of our valorous friends, who, guided by the brave Antinori, have now reached their goal.

The critical moment has now arrived for us, not to associate worldly glory with our name, but to do honour to our flag, the graceful gift of the ladies of Milan.

MarcU 11///. — We have now been for some days at Fadasi, on the borders of the Galla country, and Ave are Avell off here. Ernest Marno, in 1870, haA'ing surmounted many obstacles, arriA-ed here with the intention of reaching the Galla country, but vanquished by the hostility he met Avith on the way, and still more in Fadasi, he abandoned in thirty-six hours all idea of adA'ancing, and turned back. We recall this fact, not in order to foolishly boast, but rather, while remaining unmolested at Fadasi, to render honour to him who opened the way for us, and Avho, whether Aactor or vanquished, was always a A-aliant and wise explorer. That Marno Avas the