290 Seven Years in the Soudan.

path. At midniglit, Avliile resting a moment, we heard a gun-shot in the distance, then another, and then the noise of many people. I sent three or four men to reconnoitre, and they presently returned to say that they had seen a crowd of men and heard them speaking Arabic. I sent another patrol, and then learnt that these people were no rebels, but a troop sent by me the day before to carry ivor} to Dem Suleiman. They had lost their way and were cam])ing till daybreak. Reassured, I pursued m}* way to the Seriba Yanga, where we passed the rest of the night.

The following day T Avas joined by the troop I had left at Jebel Serago with the ivory, and we proceeded without other inconvenience to Dem Suleiman, where our people were awaiting us in great anxiety, having heard rumours of our being in danger.

Things being in the state T have described, T Avas not quite content with the results obtained, although they were tolerably satisfactory. After all, Suleiman was still alive and at liberty. He had been rejoined by many of his captains, could still dispose of numerous seribe where he possessed many resources, and the Jelabba continued to furnish him with powder and smuggled lead by means of the slaves whom they still possessed.

I therefore immediately began to organize a column, which, though not numerous, consisted of chosen men, so that I might not be obliged to return to Dem Suleiman until the war was entirely ended. In five days all was ready. My force consisted of two companies of regular troops and four hundred Besingers, I left at Dem Suleiman the garrison necessar} to defend that important place in case of attack, and sent towards the frontier of Niam-Xiam four hundred men under the command of four Sangiaks to capture the rebel chief Mustafa Arnaut, who was manoeuvring with six hmidred Besingers to rejoin Suleiman towards the west.