302 Seven Years in the Soudan.

tlie north to execute a diversion -whicli should decide the campaign.

If the war, in the words of our great poet, was " savage, harsh and strong," it was owing above all to the want of communication with Khartoum, caused b,y the obstruction of the White Xile, which completely hindered navigation during several months just at the commencement of operations, Avhen I had the greatest need of assistance. Thanks to God, we have succeeded in s])ite of all contrary circumstances.

But in order that slavery shall absolutely cease in the Soudan, we need three well-disposed, courageous and above all firm chiefs ; and what has been done in the great western valley of the Nile must be repeated in the eastern valley. Then I do not doubt that slavery would be completely abolished.

Ziber was not only powerful in Bahr-el-Cxhazal and Shakka, but could count on numerous followers throughout the Soudan, and the conspiracj' had extended its ramifications over an immense tract of country. They reached not onh' Khartoum, but descended the Nile as far as Cairo. The powerful rebel was served by the very employes of the Government who ought to have watched and prevented the introduction of materials of war.

The immense treasure which Ziber was able to accumulate by the enormous profits of the slave trade, enabled him to be prodigal to an extent which even a nabob of India could not equal.

He gave a presentof five thousand dollars toEllettofoni, a simple delegate from Halfai ; five thousand dollars to a certain Aved-el-Ivermi ; the same sum to Avlad Said-ol-Hassan, and eight hundred Napoleons, two horses, and two richly ornamented saddles to a certain H Pasha, Avhom I do not wish to name, lest his position at Cairo should be damaged. The Sheikh of the desert who accompanied Ziber to Korosko received a gift of two thousand dollars.