A ppendix.

in civilization, it is of urgent necessity tliat the Government should abandon the system of monopolizing, besides the ivory, all other products, depriving the natives of the benefit of free trade ; and Gessi nourishes the hope of being able one day to introduce this free trade, securing the welfare of the populations, and making them understand that having got rid of their masters, the slave traders, they are really no longer in the condition of slaves. To this end Gessi will shortly go to Khartoum and try to induce the Governor-General to initiate the regeneration of the African race. The Government could only gain by this ; the villages would increase, and capitalists, finding advantageous employment for their capital, would hasten to establish industries and build factories, and in a short time these countries would become the true jewels of the Egyptian possessions.

" From many vague conversations with Gessi, I have divined his firm resolution, should he not succeed in persuading the Governor to accept his method of administration, of retiring from the service, as he feels his position to be humiliating ; it being contrary to his sense of dignity to remain the simple jailor of the people he has delivered from the slavers, in order that the Government may keep them in servitude for the Government's own advantage. These considerations are not without foundation. On the eve of my departure from Khartoum, I heard that all boats were forbidden to touch at Meslira-el-Rek station. I do not believe that this injunction is meant to prevent the embarcation of slaves, for the measures taken by the Government of Bahr-el-Ghazal are such that no one would attempt such a thing. Gessi assures me that if slaves are now embarked, it can be only with the connivance of the superior authority of the province. I believe, rather, that the abovenamed measure is only the last step to the complete