4 2o ; THE SLAVE QUESTION. 



3. On the Slave Question. 



{From a Letter to Dr. G. Schtceinfurth, dated Lado, 

 December 25, 1881.) 



HORTICULTURE IN LAD6— THE FIRST STEAM-ENGINE IN THE HEART OF 

 AFRICA — ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROVINCE — BUDGET SUR- 

 PLUSES — THE SLAVE QUESTION — DR. JUNKER'S OBSERVATIONS — DON- 

 GOLAUI OUTRAGES. 



Just imagine ! Our garden already yields to the Government 

 nearly a thousand piastres monthly from vegetables and other 

 produce. This is encouraging, is it not ? We have just 

 commenced irrigation by means of a steam-engine, which I 

 asked for from Khartum — the first engine at work in the heart 

 of Africa. Now every one wishes to lay out a garden. My 

 absence from here was prolonged for more than three months 

 during my tour of inspection through the old mudirie of R61, 

 where I finally suppressed the shamefully conducted slave-trade. 

 I am therefore rather behind-hand with my work here, but I 

 will soon make up for lost time. I venture to enclose some 

 notes of this last journey, and you are at liberty to make what 

 use you please of them. I can vouch for the scrupulous accu- 

 racy of the facts recorded. You will see from them that till 

 now many things have been put up with which should not 

 have been allowed. I have great doubts as it is whether my 

 efforts in this direction will meet with approval in Khartum, 

 for energetic measures hardly seem to be in favour there. I 

 have received a hint privately that, if I like to go there for a 

 few days, there is nothing to prevent me (I have not been there 

 since May 1877); I will, however, carefully consider the matter. 

 I am thinking of a certain gift of Danaiis, and am too well 

 acquainted with the Sudan and its ways to suppose that I can 

 be a jpersona grata. Otherwise I am quite satisfied with the 

 consideration shown me. But if I must confess the truth, I 

 believe that no good can be done until this province is 

 separated from the central Government and made quite in- 

 dependent, as it was in the days of Gordon and Baker. It is 

 better not to write at all, when I have to wait five months for 



