AMADI THREATENED. 473 



had ever thought of this route, letters and news might have 

 reached us long ago. They appear to have given us up a long- 

 time ago j and not to think it even worth while to try to put 

 themselves in communication with us. The Danagla on the 

 Bahr-el-Ghazal are much more zealous, for they, from Christian 

 — pardon ! Mohammedan charity, are bent on freeing us from 

 the unbelieving Negroes and bringing us to the light of the 

 truth. 



Should I at any time be able to send you one of the inflam- 

 matory letters which the so-called Emir Keremallah thinks 

 good to send us from time to time, you will be astonished at 

 the mixture of fanaticism, lies, and stupidity which are har- 

 moniously blended together in them. He has kept away from 

 the seat of war at present, and contents himself with writing 

 and threatening to appear. The combined troops of Sayadin 

 (that is, our rebels) and those from Sabi and Jur Ghattas have, 

 however, marched at his command against our station Amadi, 

 under the personal leadership of Abdullahi Abd-es-Samat and 

 Tahir Aga, accompanied by a very large number of Dragomans 

 and basinger, all armed with Remingtons. The station has 

 been attacked three times up till now, and three times the 

 assailants have been repulsed, and unless they bring cannon or 

 rocket batteries from Dem Soliman, the task may prove too 

 much for them at last. At present we have only to complain 

 of one man wounded. The scoundrels cannot even shoot. 



I have had no news from Makraka for some days, but I 

 hope that everything is going on well. The Negroes, and 

 especially the Bombe of Makraka, have hitherto shown them- 

 selves faithful confederates, so I am already richly rewarded 

 for the better treatment which I have always striven to obtain 

 for them. Signor Casati is now staying in Makraka, for I re- 

 quested him to leave Monbuttu at the outbreak of hostilities, 

 as that country is too far removed. He thinks of remaining 

 where he is for the present, and kindly aiding my men with 

 his advice. Dr. Junker is here, and shares our joys and 

 sorrows. His collections are lying in my house, well packed 

 up — will they ever reach Europe ? We get along as best we 

 may. We have food, that is, white durrah, meat, and also 

 vegetables ; occasionally fruits also. Instead of sugar there is 



