“By the Nile traders’ arrangements the companies of Abou Saood receive as their perquisite one-third of all the cattle that may be stolen in successful razzias. The consumption of cattle by these brigands is enormous. All flour is purchased in exchange for flesh, while flesh is also necessary for food: thus the cow is being eaten at both ends. The frightful drain upon the country may be imagined by the following calculation, which is certainly below the truth: “If 1,000 loads of ivory must be carried to Ismailia, 2,000 cows are required as payment of carriers; 1,000 belong to the brigands as their perquisite; 300 are necessary to feed the native carriers and soldiers during the journey; ————— 3,300 cows are required to deliver 1,000 loads of ivory a distance of 165 miles from Fatiko to Ismailia (Gondokoro). A station of 35 men consumes daily 700 lbs. In addition they require to exchange for flour 350 lbs. —————————— Daily consumption of flesh 1,050 lbs. The oxen of the country do not average more than 170 lbs. cleaned. 2,255 beasts are thus required annually. ————— 5,555 oxen are necessary to feed and pay for the transport from a station only 350 strong, according to the customs of White Nile brigandage. “It must be remembered that at least a thousand, and sometimes double that number of slaves, are prisoners in each station. All these must be fed. The same principle is adopted in the exchange of flesh for flour; thus the expenditure of cattle is frightful. Not only oxen, but all the breeding cows and young calves are killed without the slightest reflection. No country can support such wilful waste; thus, after many years of ravage, this beautiful country has become almost barren of cattle. The central districts, occupied by the slave-traders, having been denuded of cattle, it has become necessary to make journeys to distant countries.” But this is not the worst aspect of affairs. For by how much a man is better than a beast, by so much his life is more sacred, and to be guarded with more jealous care. Read this story of a slave raid, its treachery, its brutality, its capture not only of slaves, but its slaughter of many times the number led away to sale. But this is not all; for in the pages of “Ismailia” follows the record of a dreadful retribution in which the whole 103 of Abou Saood’s men are put to death and 150 of their allies. This is but one of many like scenes which have helped to make the slave regions of Africa as degraded as they are found to-day.