422 Seven Years in the Soudan.

to His Excellency Raoiif Pasha, Governor-General of the Soudan, written while the author was on the voyage from Bahr-el-Ghazal to Khartoum, a voyage that ended so tragically, Gessi left as a legacy to Captain M. Camperio, the editor of the Esj)]oratore, his diary, including a copy of the above-named report, and many documents in the Arabic relating to his administration of the war against Suleiman, and the question of Slavery. The latter papers reached their destination, but not the report, which went astray for reasons on which we Avill not touch.

AVe are therefore extremely obliged to the Antislavery Ileporter, for having courteously sent, at our request, the original document written in French by Gessi Pasha himself.

The following is the translation: — " If your Excellency had been au coiiraiit of what happened in Bahr-el-Ghazal, you would certainly not have attached so much importance to the petition of the slave traders, nor apostrophized me in your note of the 4th September, in the words, ' for the slave traders were indignant at your mode of procedure.'

"Myconduct hasbeen that of an honest and devoted servant to jonv Highness ; I regulated my actions according to my conscience ; indeed, I am convinced that I was too mild. How could I have aroused the confidence of the natives in the Government without adopting the severe measures required by the situation ? The native chiefs were only couvinced of the goodwill of the Government to protect them from the injustice to which they had been victims for at least twenty-seven years, after summary justice had been done. By any other course the interests of the Government would have been sacrificed. Ought I to have abandoned several millions of inhabitants who might contribute to the prosperity of their country and of Egypt ? ought 1