The War against the Slavers.

replied, " But who will divulge these things ? We are all interested in keeping the secret, otherwise we should incur the risk of dismissal and dying of hunger." I asked afterwards how they managed to get so many slaves, and he answered: "We are continually making raids, either into the country of the Sliilluks of the Sobat, or into that of the Nuers, or that of the Shilluks of this territory. When we capture the oxen, we also capture the natives by hundreds, and if they are too many we deliver them to the Sheikhs, Avho keep them till we send for them." Gordon Pasha had already taken serious measures to suppress the slave trade at Fashoda, by nominating as Bey the descendant of the Sultans of the Shilluks, who received a high salary, with the charge of sup])ressing the slave trade in his dominions. But little by little the Bey allowed himself to be bribed by the Egyptian officials, who promised him a part of their profits. This savage, who at first despised gold, and who had formerly, as Sultan, fought for the independence of his kingdom, has now become himself a slave trader against his own subjects. But we must return to our narrative.

Having landed with Emin Bey, we passed through files of soldiers who rendered us military honours. I delivered my letter of command to Taib Bey, ordering him to furnish me with two companies of soldiers, ammunition and stores.

Lieut.-Colonel Taib Bey, Governor of Fashoda, was a Soudanese who had occupied before Gordon the post of Governor of Gondokoro, He received me with much courtesy, but showed great anxiety about the capture of the dahabia. He told me that he found himself absolutely unable to provide me with two companies, the greater part of the troops being absent collecting the taxes ; there remained only the sick and the convalescent. These, by my orders, were drawn up in the great square towards noon and from them I made my selection.

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