Slave-dealing Governors.

tlie slave caravans witli officers appointed expressly by tliemselves.

From this it is easy to form an idea of what might happen in the distant provinces of Makraka, Rohl, the Grazelle river, Shakka, Kordofan, Dongola, Sennaar, Famaca, and all along the banks of the Red Sea. Gordon Pasha found himself in a bottomless pit in everything relating to the slave-trade. All, without exception, were interested in not betraying their friends. The very officers and officials near his person took the greatest care that none of this should reach his ears. They had, in fact, persuaded themselves that with the abolition of slavery, misery would be the fate of all.

The station of Gaba-Shambe was built by me in 1875 by Gordon's orders. I was then able to attract thither with some difficulty the few inhabitants who lived in the neighbourhood. I had also induced them to bring to me various sheikhs of the right bank of the Nile, that they might aid us in building the huts and magazines. The doora and the meat came from the headquarters of Gondokoro. In a short time that station had acquired a gay and lively appearance ; but now things were changed and I saw no sheikhs. The population had disappeared as if by enchantment ; of the few herds of cattle I saw no trace whatever, and there was no question of any cultivation. The tukuls had mostly fallen into ruins ; doora had been lacking for several weeks, and no rations of meat had been distributed for several months to the few soldiers stationed there. Everything presented to the eye a picture of sadness and desolation.

At Gaba-Shambe I caused the troops to land which I had embarked at Fashoda and Khartoum, and gave orders that the four emissaries, the relations of Ziber Pasha, should continue their journey so as to meet with Suleiman. The former sheikhs, my friends, flocked from the interior to meet