Seven Years in the Soudan.

CHAPTPJR XXXTV.

THE MEKTlXr; WITH GORDON.

Commerce with Meshi a el-Kek — Navigation to Wau — "Wealth of timl)ei'— I'ahns — Vegetable butter — The death of m\ son — Milanese ex]ieilition — -Kalaka a nest of slaves — Arrival at Dara — No water — Doctor Alficri.

I AM attempting the navigation from Meslira-el-Rek to Wau and Kutsbuk-ali. If I succeed, the difficulty Avhich hinders commerce between these rich provinces and Khartoum will be overcome, for all kinds of goods can be then forwarded on a large scale without the trouble of porters, at least from Wau and Kutshuk-ali, stations in the heart of Balirel-Ghazal, while noAvadays goods from those places to Meslira-el-Rek have to be carried on men's backs across a muddy country, where there is no store of doora. I am preparing a case of seeds of all kinds, among which figures some Niam-Xiam coffees never before noticed ; and wild rice from Bahr-el-Ghazal, Sliakka and Kalaka, greatly resembling Indian rice ; besides Avhich the country produces tamarinds, wax, hone}', oil, vegetable butter in abundance, maize, doora, beans, two kinds of peas, like English peas, a gum which I believe to be mastic, and millet.

As to timber there is much of splendid quality, but it is impossible to export it further than Khartoum or Berber. There is also wood that much resembles American acmatac.