J88 Seven Years in tlic Soudan.

at once to establish the station of Gaba-Shambe.

Only later, when I arrived at Khartoum, I learned the reason of this recall.

The fact is that by the destruction of the slave trade, the city of Khartoum loses at least two million eight hundred thousand dollars a year. For this reason the Arabs lost patience with me, and concerted a cowp de main. They enrolled at Shakka five hundred Jelabba, five hundred Besingers, and five hundred mounted men. They entered Bahr-el-Ghazal, and crossed the Bahr-el-Arab and the river Delgauna, giving themselves out to be Government messengers sent to collect the taxes. Meantime they began to capture the natives. Then, in all haste, I sent a company of regular troops and four hundred Besingers. The Arabs took to flight, and, when pursued, abandoned part of their slaves, but succeeded in carr'ing away a certain quantity and a large number of cattle. The owners of the Besingers and cavalry belonged to the most influential chiefs of Resegat (Shakka) called Ageil Bey, Daudau, Madibo Bey and Bellen. I have sent a protest to Khartoum, and am curious to see whether they will proceed against these highwaymen.

All the strip of land that borders the Bahr-el-Ghazal from Delgauna to where the river Bahr-el-Arab flows into the Bahr-el-Ghazal, was, some time ago, inhabited by more than tAvo hundred thousand families of the tribe of the Jangeh. The Arabs of Bahr-el-Ghazal, as well as those of Shakka and Kalaka, preferred the Jangeh country as the place of their raids because of the numerous cattle. The Jangeh diminished to the number of thirty thousand families who, to escape persecution, emigrated to the Xuer country along the banks of the Bahr-el-Ghazal, in places inaccessible because of the marshes and morasses. It was only after the war against Suleiman that I could persuade them to return to their native homes, promising that their life and