The Jelabha.

7 Mr. Pearson, head of the expedition of the English Church Mission to Uganda ; in it he thanks me for the assistance he has received in consequence of the orders I had given.

Pearson left Khartoum on the 13th August, and took sixt3-five days to reach this port ; the greater part of the time was occupied in opening a passage through the sett." As to the post, I must still wait a few days, as it is not prudent to send it across the country of the Atots without a good escort.

Since I arrived here, five dragomans have been killed by these same Atots, but all will be safe again as soon as the grass has been burned. Another messenger brings me letters from Makraka : the news is unsatisfactory, but I cannot speak of it, for it concerns Government affairs. I find obstacles everywhere, but it would take too long to tell about them. It really needs an iron character to be able to bear calmly all the difficulties one meets with in this country, which end by undermining the health of the most robust. The Arabs, who are by nature indolent and fatalists, do not sulfer thereby ; for them time is of no value. They would not care if they were obliged to employ a year instead of a month in going from here to Khartoum ; but we Europeans cannot get used to it.

Towards eight p.m. the temperature is already 18° centigrade, towards ten a.m. 28°, and at three p.m. 35°. The highest temperature yesterday was 40° in the sun. Tlie nights are cool, and at present we cannot complain of excessive heat at any time. The barometer marks 28 inches.

Yesterday evening I had a long talk with Mudir Yussuf Bey. He is a man of very pleasant appearance ; he knows the Niam-Niam country better than anyone else, having traversed it in every direction for about twenty 3"ears, both when he ° The masses of grass and -weed that choke the rivers arc called sett.

Q 2