EMIN-BEY'S AMBASSADOKS. 467 



There are always rumours abroad in excited and turbulent 

 times ; we hear tales and reports of occurrences in Kordofan 

 and on the Bahr-el-Ghazal, though no one can tell how they 

 have arisen. Letters from Keremallah to his countrymen in- 

 formed us that Lupton had actually left, and that he (Kere- 

 mallah) intended , to go to Kordofan also, but there was no 

 other news. We were therefore the more surprised when, 

 soon after, a rumour was circulated here that Gordon Pasha 

 had entered Khartum with a large army, elephants, and 

 steamers, and, moreover, accompanied by a Sherif from Mecca. 

 Presently letters arrived from Makraka and Ayak, in which 

 the same reports were alluded to, and in one of them it was 

 asserted that a corps of twelve thousand rebels had been 

 repulsed before Khartum, and two or three traitors hanged, 

 one of them being Lupton's coadjutor, Satti Effendi, a faithless 

 scoundrel even for a Dongolaui, who had betrayed the Bahr- 

 el-Ghazal province, and then got off safely to Khartum. It 

 is certainly singular that this rumour should reach us from 

 three different directions. But the letters from Ayak con- 

 tained more important news and of greater consequence to 

 us. The members of the mission which was sent off from 

 here had fallen out soon after their departure, and the Kadi, 

 who had here assumed the character of saviour of his province, 

 did not shrink from declaring openly before the soldiers and 

 Danagla in Ayak that he was only going to the Bahr-el-Ghazal 

 to fetch the necessary troops, when he would return, and 

 after having hanged me, would have the officers and officials 

 beheaded ; we were one and all infidels, and deserved death. 

 The schoolmaster was his sturdy supporter in these harangues, 

 while the other three members were ashamed of the proceed- 

 ings, and remonstrated. From words they came to blows, and 

 finally the Kadi and the schoolmaster got the worst of it, and 

 were sent back to Lado, where, however, they have not yet 

 arrived, while the other three members of the mission con- 

 tinued their journey through Sabi. I will refrain from com- 

 menting on this story ; it will show you what sort of men I 

 am obliged to work with. 



Meanwhile the troops have arrived in detachments from the 

 south. Much to my sorrow, I have had to give up all but the 



