From Khartoiivi to Sues. 413 " The Italian Consular Agent, Signer Callisto Leguani,- does all lie can to maintain good relations with the Government and his colleagues the Austrian and Greek Consuls. M. Voisson, the French Consul, will arrive shortly, and has probably already reached Berber. An English Consul is also expected, and very soon all the flags of the civilized nations will wave in the capital of the Soudan.

" Allow me, however, to make an observation which I believe is not out of place. All the other representatives having' the title of consul, it would be advisable that our own representatives should have the same rank, if only to do away with hierarchical differences that might be misunderstood by the Arabs, giving to other nations a greater importance or value than to our own.

"I do not like to close my remarks about consulates and commercial enterprises without drawing your attention to a constant source of danger to capitalists, who, for want of knowledge, are often exposed to the loss of all their merchandise. I allude to certain rocks that lie between Khartoum and Berber, and which, at very little expense, might be destroyed by blowing them up at low water.

Signer Legnani has already suffered a considerable loss, and last year the boats of Messrs. P. Prada and Medici were nearly wrecked. The Egyptian Government might very well execute the work without any prejudice to the exchequer. A trifling tax of one piastre per boat or raft would cover the whole expense, and great service would be rendered, not only to trade but also to the Government, as steamers could then navigate the river safely even at low water.

" The country begins to profit by the coming of the Europeans. The Arab merchants who deal in native products are no longer obliged to sell to the great firms, who, having formed a trading union.

• He is now Italian Consular Agent at Suakim. — Ed.