CHAPTER XXI.

THE SLAVE MONOPOLY OP THE GOVERNMENT.

The Yabus — Eoad by the Galla — The Sheikh of Fadasi — A month of expectation — Insuperable difficulties — We leave Fadasi — Arrival at Kliartovim — Departure of Matteucci — The Sheikh of Belinguan and the Sobat — Preparations for the Sobat — Stoppage of a caravan of slaves — Monseigneur Comboni — The slave monopoly of the Government — Interview with Gordon.

I AM writing on the shores of the River Yabus. Our journey had no other purpose than to meet the Italian expedition at Kaffa, and fill up the breaks in the map of the countries which we must cross.

Hitherto our journey, though rendered dangerous by bands of filibusters and almost inaccessible roads, has succeeded fairly well, as we have been able to reach Fadasi with a complete equipment. We believed we had surmounted a great part of the difficulty, and were full of hope at seeing our goal, if not attained, at least near, since Kaffa was only eight days' march distant, when unhappily the undertaking entered another phase.

There were three roads we might take to arrive at the Galla country. The first from Beuishangal in a north-easterly direction towards the Gralla-Gank ; the second towards the Galla-Sliibuk on the south ; the third towards G-alla-Lega on the south-west.

For various reasons, however, none of these roads were available, and, as all our means were now at an end, we found ourselves in prospect of a forced return.

"We are in the season of the rains, which will increase