192 Seven Years in the Soudan.

waited for me that we miglit land together, for which purpose he came on board my steamer. He asked me if I had noticed the unnsual bustle caused by our arrival. I replied that I had noticed everything, but could not explain the reason of the bustle.

" It was two nugars," he told me, " full of slaves, and at sight of our steamers they landed in great haste, to go into the interior." The Greek merchants of the station confirmed the fact, adding that we must not be surprised, for such things happened every day.

In the administration of Fashoda was a Turkish emyloye, who, not being able to live on the small salary given by the government, had sent in his resignation, as he could earn a better living by writing petitions and acting as lawyer. I had known him for a long time, and whenever he saw me he came to chat Avith me.

From him I received the following news. The territory of Fashoda only yields a few hippopotamus hides, but the officials find means of living by the slave trade. Even after the arrival of Gordon the slave trade was carried on in secret. When one or two cargoes of doora arrive, the Mudir, by means of a confidant of his, has slaves consigned to an equivalent value. The doora is then taken to the government depot, and as to the account, it is made up as follows : — Dollars. Received from iST. N. in taxes from his district 150 Keceived from Sheikh N. N. for taxes in anear 200 Received from the same for the current year 250 Total GOO For the purchase of 200 erdeb of doora GOO I observed to ni}" friend that sooner or later Gordon Pasha would come to know of such frauds, and severely punish those who committed them. He