THE SOUDAN. 
16 
[chap. I. 
where nature has been hard in her measure dealt to the 
inhabitants, they are still more reduced by oppression. 
The Arabs fly from their villages on the approach of 
the brutal tax-gatherers, driving their flocks and herds 
with them to distant countries, and leaving their 
standing crops to the mercy of the soldiery. No one 
can conceive the suffering of the country. 
The general aspect of the Soudan is that of misery; 
nor is there a single feature of attraction to recompense 
a European for the drawbacks of pestilential climate 
and brutal associations. To a stranger it appears a 
superlative folly that the Egyptian Government should 
have retained a possession, the occupation of which is 
wholly unprofitable; the receipts being far below the 
expenditure, “ malgre ” the increased taxation. At so 
great a distance from the sea-coast and hemmed in by 
immense deserts, there is a difficulty of transport 
that must nullify all commercial transactions on an 
extended scale. 
The great and most important article of commerce 
as an export from the Soudan, is gum arabic—this is 
produced by several species of mimosa, the finest quality 
being a product of Kordofan; the other natural pro¬ 
ductions exported are senna, hides, and ivory. All 
merchandise both to and from the Soudan must be 
transported upon camels, no other animals being 
