220 Seven Years in the Sondan.

resisted the fatigue extremely well.* I have observed that it is not only the Tsetse-fly, called here diban, that so destroys the oxen, but also the want of salt and the quality of the grass, which is too sweet.

When I went to Dufile I took with me an Abyssinian horse, although many persons had tried to dissuade me from so doing, because, according to them, it would very soon die. Instead of that, it rendered me good service for two years, and I might have had it still had I not been obliged to go to Khartoum.

I have lingered too long on the question of transport, and Avill now touch on that of slavery.

On my departure from Khartoum my orders Avere decisive concerning the scourge of Africa. The mild means Avhich the Grovernor-G-eneral had adopted having proved vain, five caravans were arrested within a month, and summary justice done. But, 7iotwithstanding, the merchants eluded the vigilance of the authorities, and in many instances those who were paid to guard against the slave trade profited b}'' it themselves. But the last examples of the dnhahia which I captured, and two others given to Gaba-Shambe, sufficed to convince these people that the Clovernment, when it interferes, is able to make its laws respected. It is now impossible for slaves to descend by way of the White Nile. L shall be told that the measures I took were too severe, but when all means of conciliation had been exhausted, what was I to do? To arsfue with these mercenaries would have done no good, and the CTOvernmeut would have given proof of incompetency.

Perhaps I shall have to fight hard in the Bahr-el-Clhazal, a true nest of slave dealers, but I hope to overcome every difficulty, and surely fortune will smile on my efforts to subdue the rebels, who seem to * Miaiii travelled here on ox-back, and the Jelabba also.,