Reorganizahon of the Coitntry. 367 Arab to be furnished with slaves. Their cotton served to pack their guns. They were all captured, and I hope that the rest, who are being hunted in all directions, will soon be taken.

" The fourth inroad occurred at Lifi. I had placed there a Sangiak called Drar, and it seems that, finding himself near Shakka, he had entered into negociations with the principal slavers, promising them his assistance. His proposals were accepted and the slavers came with a great quantity of cotton. Just then I was fully engaged in the south of Bahr-el-Ghazal, and never suspected such treachery.

" I arrived at Dem Suleiman with Wilson and Felkin, and the Jelabba, informed that I intended to go to Kalaka, escaped with about forty-five slaves. A sheikh arrested the fugitives and delivered them over to a detachment of regular troops josted at Terogue, composed of a corporal and ten men, who set the slaves at liberty, and possessed themselves of all the cotton, but let the Arabs escape. Informed of what had happened, I arrested the superintendent Drar and the corporal, and seeking out the negroes, they pointed out the slave merchants to me, who were soon arrested and tried. In spite of Drar's treachery I was very fortunate, for none of the slaves were carried away, and the slave traders had the worst of it, having lost .a large quantity of stuffs. I hope that, according to an agreement made Avith the Governor of Darra, I may soon effect the arrest of the slave traders who have fled towards Kordofan. The frontier is now strictly watched by the troops, and the punishment inflicted on the slave merchants who are taken prisoners will be a warning for the future.

" On February 29th there arrived two steamers with the boats I had asked for in order to commence the opening of portions of the river rendered difficult for navigation. Dr Junker arrived with the