24 Seven Years in the Sondan.

nication witli him. T imagined him a brave man, iucapal)le of Avrong-doing.

We readied FashodaoJi June lOtii at eleven o'eloek a.m. Having letters of introduction for Lieut. -Col. Yussuf Bey, commandant of the place, I went to him Avith Anson ; Ave found him courteous and ready to satisfy us in every way. AVe asked him for two tents, two asses, cords and medicine, especially quinine ; an hour after the asses, tents, and cordage were on board. At noon we dined with him and discussed the political situation of the country. In the evening there was another invitation to a Shilluk party ; but the day which had begun so well Avas to finish sadly, for towards evening our host heard of the death of his son at Kaka, a youth of twenty-tAvo, Avho Avas returning from Sennaar, Avhere he had been to A'isit his relations.

When we returned on board Ave found ten milchewes and some fresh A'egetables, a gift of Yussuf, and the doctor brought all the medicines we needed.

Onl} tAvice during all my long stay in Africa Avere my requests so promptly granted as now by Yussuf Bey and previously by Nubar Pasha, Avlien I asked him for letters of introduction. In the eA'ening there arrived three nngar AA'ith elephant tusks, but the country from which they came being beyond my jurisdiction, I had no right to examine Avhether, Avitli the Avhite iAorA", there Avas not also some black, in other Avords slaAes.

The toAA'n of Fashoda is the place of transportation for criminals condemned for life. It is said that anyone sent to Fashoda never returns. The climate is unhealthy, the air pestilential, and it rarely happens that a condemned prisoner survives the effects of the priAations of the place. There are a few shops slenderly supplied Avith articles at a high price. Yussuf Bey does all he can to improAe the city, but he cannot accomplish much.

They say that perceptible improA'ements have been