The Death of Stileiman. 333 hour. Tlie boats had about forty-three to fifty tons burden. The crew consisted of forty to fifty men, as it was necessary to tow the boats for the greater part of the voyage on account of the strong current. The crew received a part of the profit accruing from the sale of the slaves. Besides which, the captain, the steersman, and the sailing-master had the right to choose one or two slaves for himself. AVhen the embarcation of slaves was rendered impossible by the measures taken to repress the trade, such expeditions were no longer convenient, for the monthly cost of each boat was as follows : — " ' Pay of fifty men at five dollars a month each ... ■2")0 Dried meat and doora ... ... ... ... 50 "' Pay of the reis and steersman ... ... ... 7 '"Dollars 307 " ' The length of each voyage, calculated at six months, including the hiring of the boat at sixty dollars a month, made a total of 2202 dollars.

" ' It being therefore.not possible to make any profit out of such a trade, we began to transport ivory with our slaves by land to Meshra-el-Rek, and finally abandoned the navigation of the river.'

" The Arab, who, it seemed to me, had uncommon good sense, and was very frank, added, — " ' I myself have been occupied with seeking ivory and buying slaves. I was very fortunate with the first, but had very little profit from the exportation of the latter.'

"'How was that?' I interrupted, 'others have gained considerable riches in the trade.'

" ' I will tell you. I had no place at Khartoum or the neighbourhood in which to keep the slaves, who generally arrived in a sickly state, and I was obliged to sell them at a low price. Rich proprietors, who could nurse and care them on their property and sell them at a favourable moment, gained double the price that I received.'