A DESPATCH FROM NUBAR PASHA. 495 



the whole country as far as Ayak. This news was confirmed by 

 four Agar men, who arrived some days later, and in conse- 

 quence of it the Negroes had dispersed. Moreover, the famous 

 Dinka chief, Kojur Dentonj, had fallen in the last fight before 

 Lado. I do not feel quite comfortable about these reports — if 

 they are anything more than mere Negro gossip. After recent 

 events, it is not likely that the Government would employ 

 Danagla as well as their own troops. Is it not more likely 

 that this is a new expedition of Danagla from Dem Soliman or 

 even Kordofan, among whom there would probably be large 

 numbers of deserters and prisoners from the Bahr-el-Ghazal 

 and Kordofan ? 



Wadelai, March 3, 1886. 



On the afternoon of February 26, the sergeant-major, 

 whom I had sent with Junker and Vita to Kabrega, ap- 

 peared quite unexpectedly, and laid down before me a large 

 packet of letters. Besides letters from Dr. Junker to me 

 explaining everything in detail, there was an official despatch 

 from Cairo, signed JYicbar, a letter of Sir John Kirk's, forwarded 

 to me by my agent, and copies of letters from Mr. Mackay, 

 Mr. Ashe, and M. Lourdel — all of them in Uganda — to Dr. 

 Junker. Mr. Mackay had also kindly sent to Dr. Junker two 

 packets of Reuters telegrams extending over the year 1884, 

 and up to November 2, 1885. The Egyptian despatch, 

 written in French, informs me that the Government is unable 

 to assist us, for the Sudan is to be given up, gives me 

 carte blanche to take any measures I please, should I decide to 

 leave the country, and, further, authorises me to draw on the 

 English Consul-General in Zanzibar. It is a cool business 

 despatch, in the fullest sense of the word, not acknowledging 

 by a single word the cares I have borne for three years, my 

 fights with Danagla and Negroes, my hunger and nakedness, 

 nor giving me a word of encouragement in the superhuman 

 task of leading home the soldiers, which now lies before me. 

 However, I am accustomed to this sort of thing. In the years 

 1878—80, during which the river was blocked for twenty- 

 two months, I held the country and people together, and 

 showed for the first time that we could maintain ourselves by 



