Seven Years in the Soudan.

CHAPTER VII.

wi';alti[ (»f the soudan.

Natural products — Skins and cattle — Eljony.

Willi. E we ])ursuecl our way to the place of destination, Colonel Gordon was' still at Khartoum, pre-})aring the arsenal, and seeing that troops and ammunition Avere dispatched without delay. Gordon had not a few difficulties to overcome, caused especially by the habitual slowness of the people, and the ill-will of the government officials, jealous of the success obtained by the expedition. The local governor deceived the Colonel several times, and Gordon, Avearied at length beyond endurance, reported the fact to Ismail Pasha. The latter gravely recommended him to have patience, and endeavoured to persuade him that in Egypt it was no crime to say one thing and do another.

I said before that the governors of distant provinces act at their pleasure, and abuse their power, deceiving the central government and ruining trade. These people are the Avorst scourge I know, and seem to have been sent to giAe the finishing stroke to the Soudan ; they regarded Muntag Pasha as a pearl in comparison to Ismail.

" It is no longer taxes that you impose but real ransom-money," exclaimed the A'ictims.

" The imposts are not for me," replied the functionary, " but for the Miri." But is he authorized to m ake them ? Certainly not. He is eager to display his zeal and intelligence by