202 Seven }en7's in the Sciician.

side of our caravan. After the third day we arrived at a deserted village, but Avheii the natives heard that Ave were a Government troop, and not followers of Suleiman, they returned to their habitations. In the morning we crossed the river Delgauna, which we found to be about three hundred and ninety feet wide ; at this point it Avas only about four feet deep. The current was very rapid, and the bottom so sandy that it was necessary to cross quickly in order not to sink into it.

The sheikh of the localit} named Yango, with whom i was acquainted, had been to Dem Idris some time before, and J had furnished him with six hundred cartridges to fight with and arrest the Jelabba who were driving slaves. He behaved admirably, destroyed all the Jelabbas who fell into his hands, and liberated the slaves. Such conduct being very damaging to Suleiman, the latter had sent two Sangiaks to attack him. They Avere the famous Abdulgassim and the Sheikh Abdelmasi. Yango, warned of the danger that threatened him, put his family and propert}' in safety, barricaded his A'illage, and firmly awaited the arrival of the enemy. He was very soon attacked. He defended himself all day, but then, finding his ammunition exhausted, he took advantaore of the night to flv. In this affair the rebels lost about fifty men, while Yango had only two Avounded. Some days after, the bands of Abdulgassim and Abdelmasi were beaten by our people and Abdelmasi killed. Abdulgassim, informed of the taking of Dem Suleiman, tied toAvards the copper mines, and thus Delgauna was liberated from tliescourge.

The Sheikh Yango received me Avith all honour, dressed in his suit of ceremony, Avliich consisted of a lonsf silk srarment richlv embroidered in sokL He looked like a bishop in pontificals.

The inhabitants of Delgauna, and about a thousand Arabs from Darfour, Bargo and Shakka, Avere