i8 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



deavour to convince and attract them. Explain well 

 to them that if they heartily devote themselves to 

 agriculture I will dispense from payment of the tax 

 which I now reduce, and thus they will only have to 

 pay the tax of the lands which they actually cultivate, 

 even if this tax should be less than what they pay for 

 their mountains; and you will treat them in this 

 manner for their tranquillity, and so as to draw them 

 into the path of civilisation. If evn, in your con- 

 versation with them to explain this and to prevail 

 upon them to do it, they ask you to remove this tax, 

 provided that they promise to devote themselves to 

 agriculture, paying only the land tax, you will consent 

 and will refer the matter to me, so that I may act 

 with them according to their desires, with the sole 

 object of inspiring them with the love of comfort of 

 life in the towns, and to safeguard them from the 

 vicissitudes to which they are exposed. 



"'When I arrived at Berber and at Shendy, I 

 appointed the sheiks and notables according to the 

 wishes of the inhabitants and at their choice. The 

 sheiks of some villages did not come. You will 

 arrange things in the same way for the province of 

 Dongola, and complete them also for the villages in 

 the provinces of Berber and Gaulein, where they have 

 not been done. You will select as sheiks and muluks 

 those who have been chosen by the inhabitants, and 

 you will give them your wise counsels, so that they 

 may behave properly and avoid, thanks to your care, 



