298 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

all made of burnt brick. "We rode up to the imposing-looking building which is the Mudirieh, that is, the government offices and the residence of the Mudir, and were soon ushered into the presence of the chief officer, whom, to my great surprise and pleasure, I found to be an old and kind acquaintance, Mahomet Pasha Stambouli, formerly Mudir of Berber. He was very glad to see me again, gave us a very hearty welcome, and very soon made us comfortable in the divan, and had tents for our people prepared in the garden behind.

I have mentioned that the Greek merchant and the Arab who travelled with us had a great number of servants. When our caravan arrived in Obeid we were astonished to find that the Greek had vanished, though all his people remained with ours.

Unfortunately for him, the Mudir himself went to see after the . unpacking of our goods, and inquired to whom all the servants belonged, thinking there was something suspicious about them. It was soon discovered that they were all slaves, and they were at once taken in charge by the soldiers. The Greek by-and-by appeared, and was not a little surprised when he found what had occurred. In spite of his strong protestations he lost them all. The Mudir ordered the women to be married and the boys to be trained for soldiers ; this being the way in which all captured slaves are utilised.

Unis, the Arab, had been more wily ; being aware