3i8 Seven Years in the Soudan.

But as long as communications are wanting, the capital expended on missions, as well as on partial commercial speculations, may yield some small but never an important result. If I had time I could enumerate all the missionary expeditions, especially English, which have been lately made at the expense of millions and millions of francs, and not one of which, as much as I know, has corresponded to the sacrifice.

" R. Gessi."

On the evening of the 27th June, 1879, I set oif on the same road by which I had come to Tuesha, wishing to reach Dara Avithout delay. The night was cold, and we hastened our rate of travelling in order to cross the arid portions of the country quickly, never stopping till towards morning. After two hours' rest we started again. At ten a.m. T and my companion lunched under a large tree with Abu Muri Effendi, while our people Avent forward with the guides. We had retained a special guide, and after about an hour Avere ready to start, but he had meanwhile disappeared, so that Ave Avere obliged to follow the footprints of our men ; but very soon these became confused with each other and with those of the animals, and diAerged into different paths. Still Ave marched on, but soon obserAed that, in spite of the swiftness of our horses, aa'c never oA'ertook our people. We tried another path, and then a third, so that at last Ave did not know Avhere we Avere ; but Ave still went on, until we had marched for ten hours Avithout result. There was no water anywhere. I had with me only one compass, and we had no arms.

It was a really anxious day ; Ave were in danger of dying of thirst or of being doA'oured by lions, of Avhich there are numbers in these districts.

We had been on horseback for fourteen hours, and my companion was no longer able to proceed. He halted and said he Avould remain where he was at