2o6 Seven Years in the Soudan.

of slaves I had made, Fauzi Bey, witli the aid of some clerks, falsified the registers, declaring that those people were recruits destined for Fashoda. But the artifice was too absurd, since the greater part of the slaves were women and children.

Also at Lado they not only could not consign the two companies I needed, but they even refused the ammunition I demanded. Ammunition was there in abundance, but everyone conspired against my expedition. Only two hundred and forty guns of an antique pattern were delivered to me, while the Remingtons were hidden in distant stations. No one would help me, in spite of the strict orders of Gordon Pasha. After various altercations and disputes with Nuer Bey, 1 got at last twenty-five cases of ammunition and eighty soldiers, part of whom I was to take from the stations of Bohr and Gaba-Shambe, My hopes were founded on a company of regular troops under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Behit Bey ; on the irregular troops of Atruc Bey ; on those of Manbettu, and those resident at Rohl-Rumbek. I was tired of so many obstacles ; all my protests were of no avail ; but I plucked up patience under the hope that affairs might at last take a better turn.

I left Lado with the intention of proceeding to Bohr, receivinof in consignment the fortv soldiers who were to form part of the eighty given me b}' JSTuer Bey. What was my surprise then to see soldiers come on board armed with old guns, while all the regular troops are generally armed with Remingtons. My patience was exhausted, and I made an emphatic protest to the commander, Surur Effendi, who was now frightened and instantly sent me the Remingtons.

At length I arrived on the 10th July at Gaba-Shambe, after ten days' absence. Hitherto no news had arrived from Rohl-Rumbek respecting the bearers.