The Movements of Suleiman.

9 river, and safe in a good strategical position. I do not think of leaving before I have received reinforcements.

There ought to arrive from Makraka a battalion of about five hundred regulars, but the great distance, and tremendous difficulties that delay a march in the centre of Africa, and then the Arabs ! . . . .

In order not to be taken by surprise, I caused trenches to be made, and meanwhile I have sent a letter to Ali Abu Muri Effendi, announcing my arrival and ordering him to march without loss of time.

My people can now rest and satisfy their hunger, thanks to the quantity of fish in the river, and the game in the forest which surrounds us.

Here is what happened to the reinf orcernent from Makraka. The governor of that equatorial province, a certain Atrusc Bey, instead of obeying my orders, sent no troops towards Rohl in the north, as he wished to avoid fighting the much feared Suleiman, but sent all the men at his disposal westward in search of ivory ! Colonel Behit Bey also refused to come, and I was obliged to deprive him of his command and transfer it to Captain Rehan Aga. I have also sent orders that the coward should be arrested.

The reinforcements cannot reach me for a month, and I will not and cannot remain so long inactive. I therefore shall go to Bisellia with part of my men to reconnoitre.

I took with me a company of irregular troops. Two hours after sailing I met three negroes ; they were the sheikhs of Bisellia, Bongo and Gonfora.

They approached and begged me to wait, for they wished to speak to me. I dismounted, and under the shade of a magnificent tamarind tree I gave them an audience. The eldest then said, — " A report spread amongst us that the Government troops were arrived. We are the sheikhs of the villages of Bisellia, Bongo and Gonfora. Suleiman has taken our wives and children captive ; he has