344 Seven Years in the Soudan.

Shakka, who had deserted from the Government and joined the rebels. I do not wish by what I say to enhance my own merit, but I am anxious that the truth should be known. When, solicited by Gordon, T accepted ray mission, everybody began to laugh, saying that Gordon wished at all costs to get rid of me, and that he was sending me to certain death. Suleiman was not only the master of Bahr-el-Ghazal, but was feared all over Darfour, and even at Khartoum.

" The successive pashas tried all in their power not to make an enemy of Suleiman, and though the Government succeeded in exiling Ziber Pasha to Cairo, they did so b} cunning, that is, by loading him with honours and autographic letters from the Viceroy of Egypt, so that he fell into their trap.

" But though Ziber Pasha was no longer in Bahrel-Ghazal, he had left many faithful friends with his son, who, before he departed for Cairo, had sworn that they would never abandon Suleiman, and that, should the father never return, they would rise and conquer Bahr-el-Ghazal, Kohl, Darfour, and Kordofan, and finally plant Ziber's flag on the Government palace in Khartoum ; then the Viceroy would have been forced to make a treaty, and allow Ziber Pasha to return to Bahr-el-Ghazal as absolute master.

" The rebel plan was not without merit, because possessing themselves of Kohl, ]\[akraka, and the stations along the river, they would not only have had in their hands immense deposits of arms and ammunition, but other twenty thousand Arabs would have joined them, and followed Suleiman with enthusiasm. At Shakka, in Darfour and Kordofan, his forces would have exceeded thirty thousand men, without counting Haroun. At Khartoum more than half the population was for Ziber, and you cannot imagine what would have ensued.

" Aien Suleiman, defeated on all sides, entered