A YAK, A NEST OF SLAVE-TRADERS. 331 



chiefs, by their so-called masters, from fear that on my arrival 

 complaints would be made to me. For over an hour we wan- 

 dered along in the midst of corn-fields, with their small watch- 

 huts, until at last we were greeted in a clearing by a long 

 row of about two hundred well-armed Danagla, an indication 

 that we should find an immense number of slaves in the station. 

 My small company of soldiers (ten men) formed a comical con- 

 trast to the forces of the Danagla. 



The station is called Ayak. Dufalla, or Defa'allah, as it 

 should perhaps be called, is the name of its Governor, a scamp 

 of the first water, distinguished even in this respect above 

 his fellows : Koran in hand, he plunders far and wide. The 

 situation of Ayak, between Shambe, Rumbek, and Amadi,. 

 would especially fit it to be the capital of the entire district, 

 and it is impossible to understand why Rumbek, where even 

 water can hardly be obtained, has occupied that position 

 hitherto. 



The environment of Ayak is gloomy in the extreme. The 

 trees have been cut down, and a rolling plain covered by grass 

 extends on all sides. The soil is a sticky yellow loam, and it 

 would seem to be often flooded, to judge from the great pools 

 of yellow water which even at this season we saw in the fields. 

 The river, which makes a sharp bend close by the station, is 

 one hundred and nine feet broad at the southern ford, and varies 

 from four feet three inches to four feet eight inches in depth. 

 The banks are at present about fifteen feet above the level 

 of the water, and consist of pure reddish-brown sandy clay 

 unmixed by stone; in fact, not a single rock or stone is to be 

 seen as far as the eye can reach. The station itself consists 

 of irregular congeries of huts and zeribas, mostly built on 

 high platforms ; but as many people have also settled upon 

 the ground, it occupies a considerable area. Very few gar- 

 dens are to be seen, for the people here can think of nothing 

 but slaves. If, however, proper canals were dug and irriga- 

 tion employed, much might be expected here. The popu- 

 lation consists of the scum of Khartum, Berber, Dongola, &c. 

 The men who were too lazy to work or could not exist there 

 came here and built huts, where they live, with their wives 

 and servants, at the expense of the Negroes. In round num- 



