Gordon established a close rapport with the African peoples of Equatoria such as the Nuer and Dinka, who had long suffered from the activity of Arab slave traders, and who naturally supported Gordon's efforts to stamp out the slave trade. The peoples of Equatoria had traditionally worshipped spirits present in nature, but were steadily being converted to Christianity by missionaries from Europe and the United States, which further encouraged Gordon in his efforts as governor of Equatoria, who notwithstanding his position working for the Egyptian government saw himself as doing God's work in Equatoria. Gordon was not impressed with the forces of the Egyptian state. The soldiers of the Egyptian Army were "fallāḥīn" (peasant) conscripts who were both ill-paid and ill-trained. The other force for law and order were the much feared "bashi-bazouks", irregulars who were not paid a salary, but were expected to support themselves by looting. The "bashi-bazouks" were extremely susceptible to corruption and were notorious for their brutality, especially to non-Muslims.