chap, i.] , SLAVE TRADE OF THE SOUDAN. \J 
adapted to the deserts. The cataracts of the Nile 
between Assouan and Khartoum rendering the navi¬ 
gation next to impossible, the camel is the only medium 
of transport, and the uncertainty of procuring them 
without great delay is the traders greatest difficulty. 
The entire country is subject to droughts that occasion 
a total desolation, and the want of pasture entails 
starvation upon both cattle and camels, rendering it 
at certain seasons impossible to transport the pro¬ 
ductions of the country, and thus stagnating all en¬ 
terprise. Upon existing conditions the Soudan is 
worthless, having neither natural capabilities nor poli¬ 
tical importance; but there is, nevertheless, a reason 
that first prompted its occupation by the Egyptians, 
and that is in force to the present day. The Soudan 
supplies slaves. 
Without the White Nile trade Khartoum would 
almost cease to exist; and that trade is kidnapping 
and murder. The character of the Khartoumers needs 
no further comment. The amount of ivory brought 
down from the White Nile is a mere bagatelle as an 
export, the annual value being about £40,000. 
The people for the most part engaged in the ne¬ 
farious traffic of the White Nile are Syrians, Copts, 
Turks, Circassians, and some few Europeans. So 
closely connected with the difficulties of my expedition 
VOL. T. C 
