Great Mortality througJi Famine. 389 property should be respected. The country therefore had been repo])ulated, when, all at once, peace is again disturbed ! It may be foreseen what terrible vengeance the natives will have to suffer from the Jelabba, for having helped me to destroy their settlements ; although I am still here, they do not conceal their intentions, but threateningly say, " Wait; this nostrano Christian will some day resign." It is certain that I cannot remain here for ever, and I am ready to resign my post. Enough for me, if the fate of these populations be confided to a person Avho will continue to hinder the slave trade !

Between Shakka and Kordofan there is a route called the Zaharia Road, which, during the rainy season, is traversed by numerous caravans, but avoided during summer because of the scarcity of water. Another route used by slave caravans is that from Darfour to Siut ; the journey takes forty days. With four or five stations commanded by honest persons, all slavery might be ended for ever.

" On board the Snjia for Khartoum, "1880.

" Dear Campkrio, — If I should not have to return to my post, I advise you to send by means of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, either a telegram or a letter to the Italian Consul-General at Cairo, telling him by means of the Khedive, to forward orders that Casati shall be protected and assisted in his explorations, as was done in the case of Dr. Junker. When you get this Casati will be in Monbuttu ; that country is now under the jurisdiction of Emin Bey, who is always ambitious of being the first to solve the question of the Welle and its tributaries. Emin Bey is a man full of deceit and without character, pretentious and jealous — a German Jew-, he passes for a Turk, or at least wishes to be understood as such. Anyhow, you would do well to recommend Casati to