Seven Years in the Soudan.

old man wept for joy at our being there. To escape Suleiman he had passed the whole of the rainyseason in the high grass with his family.

Suleiman with his band had overrun the country, capturing the natives in order to sell them to the slave traders.

The old sheikh succeeded on the very first day in finding two boats, of which we were so much in need, and four more the next day. So as to raise the courage of the irregular troops, I thought of a stratagem. I went to an Arab, on whom I could rely, and made him write me a letter dated from Meshra-el-Rek, in which he told me of the arrival of ten companies and four cannon sent to our aid. The letter arrived in camp stuck on a split cane carried b} a negro, and was read in public by the very Arab who had written it.

The joy and commotion, na} the delight of the troops was so great that everybody embraced his fellow, crying, " Long live the Effendi," and I myself felt more encouraged. Xow the Arabs are more impatient than I am to cross the river and occupy the seriba of Kutzuk Ali.

December 4th. — We passed the river under the protection of the cannon. I had scarcely disembarked three companies than I went on to the seriba of Kutzuk Ali, leaving the care of superintending the passage of the remainder of the troops and material to the Arab Saati Effendi (the same who had written the letter). The seriba of Kutzuk Ali was evacuated and burned by the rebels. I followed the enemy, who had proceeded to Wau. We found hidden barges and two fishing-boats, which much facilitated our crossins:, thouofh it lasted the Avhole nio-ht. I occupied Wau, which was in flames.

Becemher bfh. — Early in the morning I sent a reconnaissance along the bank ; there Avas found a large barge sunk by the rebels, which Ave soon got afloat. So here we are, masters of the course of the