282 Seven Years in the Soudan.

I tell the truth : in this campaign I had seen every kind of death, suffering and torture, and ought to have been hardened to everything, but this time I felt my heart swell, and could scarcely restrain my tears while gazing at the innocent, lifeless face, at this victim destroyed by men steeped in ferocity. My sorrow soon gave way to indignation. I wished to avenge these innocent victims of the Jelabba, Avho are true tigers thirsting for blood, and having caused the thirty slave traders — Avhom we had taken prisoners and who belonged to the gang which had perpetrated these atrocities — to be brought before me, I said to them, — " Look at your infamous work of destruction ! " They gazed dejectedly but indifferently at their poor victims. After which. Clod punished them by my hand, and justice was done according to the law of war. But before its accomplishment, 1 allowed them to offer up their last prayer to their God, which they did, invoking the assistance of the Prophet, and this proves that, in Islam, religious sentiment can be associated with utter cruelty and ferocity.

I had avenged the victims and felt that T had done ray duty, though it is always a sad task to pass a sentence which deprives a fellow-creature of life. The only man I spared was Abu Suep, from whom I hoped to obtain valuable information. I turned to my soldiers, and said, — " T have no more millet or food to give you ! The enemy cannot be far off. We must be brave and march quickly to overtake him. Then we will beat him, and take what victuals we need." In order still further to encourage the troops, I promised that all the booty should be theirs.

" God help us ! " replied the soldiers, " and may thy head remain sane ! " En\a ?7/.<«' talle, a compliment often used by the Soudanese.

We quickened our pace and at nightfall bivouacked near a torrent. As the soldiers were gathering