62 Seven Yea7's in the Soudan. Dollars. 50 tons of ebony sold at Alexandria for 30/., although in England and Germany it is paid at the rate of 40/. to 46/.

— moo/ = 7500 Deducted expen.se.s, as over . ...... 1310 Net profits . . . = 0190 It would not be difficult to obtain fifty cargoes a year, and supposing tliat the Government limited itself to 15/. a ton, tlie gain would alwa3's be considerable.

The ebony coming from South America being brought from the interior, and the expenses of transit much greater, could not compete with this from Africa. This precious article, so much neglected hitherto, has been recently introduced to commerce by Colonel Gordon.

The Egyptian Government ])0ssesses various steamers on the Nile, seven of which are at the service of Gordon's expedition. They undertake periodical journeys betAveen Gondokoro and Khartoum ; the necessary expenses are few, as they use for fuel the Avood of the immense forests which extend alongf the river. They tow the nugars up the river, Avhile it is necessary to descend the stream for only twentytwo days to reach Berber.

The steamers of the Khedivate which make the journey between Massvah, Suakim and Jeddali have difficulty in finding return cargoes for Suez, and ebony would furnish the means of covering a part of the expenses of this service. The camel-drivers would not lack employment, and a new era of prosperity would succeed to the present misery of the Bedouins.

Ostrich-hunting is pursued on a small scale in Africa ; their feathers, which are so much in request among us, would be very cheap if the natives understood hoAv to take care of them. The greater part of the feathers now exported are furnished by the ostriches which the Shilluks and Bagaras take young,