TJic Riches of Bahr-cl-Ghazal. 339 can tlieu imagine what unheard-of horrors occurred during our desperate struggle. The rebels knew that they could hope for no quarter, and fought to the last gasp. Suleiman commanded fifty-three Sangiaks, of whom fifty-two perished fighting, and only one, named Rabi, took refuge in the Sandeh country.

" Slavery and the slave trade have now ceased in all the country under my charge, and I am pleased with the arrival in Bahr-el-Ghazal of AYilson and Felkin, because, knowing the language, they can convince themselves that the infamous trafiic has disappeared in these districts. The Government has generously recompensed me for my labour ; but the greatest reward is the gratitude of the natives. I am now occupied in clearing the province of all the Arabs, retaining only a small garrison of regular troops.

" This countr} cannot be compared to the other parts of Africa that I have seen, and Bahr-el-Ghazal and Sandeh are destined to become great commercial markets. When I was at Cairo I cultivated the friendship and hospitality of the brothers Stress, who received me like a relation. These excellent gentlemen showed me the enormous profit that might accrue from African commerce. They gave me instructions about the indiarubber tree, and I can now bear witness to the truth of what they said. The indiarubber tree is found in all the district of Rohl and Bahr-el-Ghazal, and I have collected a great quantity of the gum. Mr. Wilson and Dr. Felkin are taking a sample to England, and they assure me that the quality is superior to that from the Brazils.

" But indiarubber is not the only article ; there is the jEriodeiidrum aufraduosiim, which produces a fibre resembling silk. It is found in great profusion in Sandeh, and I send you a sample to show our manufacturers.

' Rabi, called Rabeh hy the Araba.

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