CHAPTER XXXV.

SULEIMAN A PMSONEE.

Difficulties of the English Miss-ion in Uganda — Proposals of colonization — Kapid j\Iarch — Drought — Lions — Messedaglia Bey, governor of Darfour — Intelligent scouts — Considerable forces of the enemy — Suleiman in Darfour — Midnight march — Rain — Cold — The Uadi Ibra river — Disagreement among the enemy — The village Gara surprised — -Absolute silence — Successful stratagem — Suleiman a prisoner.

" Bahr-el-Ghazal, " 14tli September, 1879.

" To tlie Editor of the Esplorafore.

" From letters received b}" this post I am informed that Doctor Felkin, employed in the Church Mission in Uganda, has arrived at Lado on the way to England. A later notice tells me of the arrival of the Rev.

Mr. AVilson at Mruli, from whence he will go home to England.

" Without being a bird of evil omen, I am of opinion that this expedition, set on foot with such care and expense, will suffer a check. We who have lived with Mtesa for some time can judge him thoroughly. He is not wanting in a certain intelligence, and he was cunning enough to strike when the iron was hot.

" We cannot well believe in his intention to embrace Christianity, which he shows towards Europeans who visit his realm, because he did the same as regards Mohammedanism, when Arabs of distinction paid him a visit. The interests that bind Mtesa to the