”IimmediatelyinformedhimthatIshouldreporthimtotheKhedive，atthesametimeIinsistedupontheliberationofeveryslave。”Atfirsthequestionedmyauthority，sayingthatheheldtherankofbey，andwasgovernorofthedistrict。Isimplytoldhimthat`ifherefusedtoliberatetheslaves，hemustgivemethatrefusalinwriting。’Thiswasanawkwardfix，andhealteredhistonebyattemptingtoexplainthattheywerenotslaves，butonlyheldashostagesuntilthepeopleshouldpaytheirtaxes。Atthesametimehewasobligedtoconfessthattherewasnoestablishedtax。Iheardthathehadreceivedfromonenativetencowsfortheransomofhischild，thusthestolenchildwassoldbacktothefatherfortencows！andthiswastheSoudanmethodofcollectingtaxes！Iftheunfortunatefatherhadbeenshotdeadintherazzia，hisunransomedchildwouldhavebeencarriedawayandsoldasaslave；orshouldthepanic-strickennativesbeafraidtoapproachwitharansomforfearofbeingkidnappedthemselves，thewomenandchildrenwouldbelosttothemforever。”Iwasthoroughlydisgusted。IknewthatwhatIhadhappenedtodiscoverwastheruleoftheSoudan，andthattheprotestationsofinnocenceofgovernorswassimplydustthrownintotheeyes。ItwastruethattheShillookcountrywasnotinmyjurisdiction；butIwasdeterminedtointerfereinbehalfoftheslaves，althoughIshouldnotmeddlewiththegeneralaffairsofthecountry。IthereforetoldtheKoordithatIhadthelistofthecaptives，andhemustsendforsomeresponsiblenativetoreceivethemandtakethemtotheirhomes。InthemeantimeIshouldremainintheneighbourhood。IthenreturnedtothefleetthatIhadleftattheforest。Intheeveningwewerejoinedbymostoftherearvessels。”April21——At9。30a。m。wesightedelevenvesselsinfullsail，approachingfromKhartoum，withastrongN。E。wind，andshortlyafterwardsweweredelightedbythearrivalofMr。Higginbotham，Dr。Gedge，andthesixEnglishengineers，shipwrights，&c。，allingoodhealth。”April22——IpaidavisittotheKoordi’scamp，accompaniedbyMr。
　　BakerandMr。Higginbotham，asIwishedtohaveEuropeanwitnessestothefact。Uponarrival，IexplainedtothegovernorthathehadcompromisedtheEgyptianGovernmentbyhisact，andasIhadreceivedgeneralinstructionsfromtheKhedivetosuppressallslave-hunters，I
　　couldonlyregardhiminthatcategory，asIhadactuallyfoundhimintheact。Imust，therefore，insistupontheimmediateandunconditionalreleaseofalltheslaves。Afteranattemptatevasion，heconsented，andIatoncedeterminedtoliberatethempersonally，whichwouldestablishconfidenceamongthenatives。”AccompaniedbyLieutenantBakerandMr。Higginbotham，andthevariousofficersofthestaff，Iorderedtheropes，irons，andotheraccompanimentsofslaverytobedetached；andIexplainedthroughaninterpretertotheastonishedcrowdofcaptives，thattheKhedivehadabolishedslavery，thereforetheywereatlibertytoreturntotheirownhomes。Atfirst，theyappearedastounded，andevidentlycouldnotrealizethefact；butuponmyaskingthemwheretheirhomeswere，theypointedtotheboundlessrowsofvillagesinthedistance，andsaid，`Thoseareourhomes，butmanyofourmenarekilled，andallourcattleandcornarecarriedoff。’Icouldonlyadvisethemtopackoffasquicklyaspossible，nowthattheyhadthechanceoffreedom。”Thewomenimmediatelytookuptheirlittleinfantsonehadbeenbornduringthenight，othersledtheverysmallchildrenbythehand，andwithageneralconcert，theyburstintothelong，quavering，andshrillyellthatdenotesrejoicing。Iwatchedthemastheyretreatedovertheplaintotheirdesertedhomes，andItookacoldlypolitefarewelloftheKoordi。ThelooksofastonishmentoftheKoordi’stroopsasIpassedthroughtheircampwerealmostcomic。IshallreportthisaffairtotheKhedivedirect；butIfeelsurethattheexposureofthegovernorofFashodawillnotaddtothepopularityoftheexpeditionamongthelowerofficials。”April23——Istartedwithtwosteamersandtwodiahbeeahstoexploreafavourablespotforapermanentstation。WereachedtheSobatjunctioninthreehoursandaquarter，abouttwenty-fivemiles。FromtheSobat，downstream，westeamedforfortyminutes，arrivingataforest，onahighbanktotheeast，wheresomeextraordinaryhighdomepalmspalmaThebaica，togetherwithdolapepalmsBorassusEthiopicus，gaveanairoftropicalbeautytoadesolateandotherwiseuninvitingspot。”Ifixeduponthisplaceforastationasthegroundwashard，thepositionfarabovethelevelofhighfloods，andtheforestaffordedasupplyofwoodforbuildingpurposesandfuel。”April24——Westeamedforhalf-an-hourdownstreamtoalargevillageonthewestbank，namedWat-a-jook。ThenceIwentdownstreamforonehourtothegroveofdolapepalmsandgiganticIndiarubbertrees。Thiswasformerlyalargevillage，knownasHillet-el-dolape，butithasbeenentirelydestroyedbythegovernorofFashoda。Aftermuchdifficulty，I
　　inducedsomenativestocometome，withwhomIatlengthmadefriends：
　　theyalljoinedinaccusingtheKoordigovernorofwantonatrocities。”Intheafternoon，nothavingdiscoveredaspotsuperiortothatIhadalreadyselectedforastation，wereturned；butwehadnottravelledmorethananhourandahalfwhentheengineoftheNo。10steamerbrokedown。Onexamination，itappearedthattheairpumpwasbroken。
　　Fortunatelytheaccidentoccurredclosetothespotselectedforastation。”April25——At12。30p。m。IsentbacktheNo。8steamertocallthefleettothestation。Isoonmadefriendswiththenatives，greatnumbersofwhomcongregatedonthewestbankoftheriver。AllthesepeoplehadheardthatIhadliberatedthewomenandchildren。”April26——Thesteamerandentirefleetarrivedintheafternoon。”ThenativesbroughtabullockandaPongoslaveasapresentfromthechief。Ifreedtheslave，andsentapieceofclothasanintroductiontothechief。”April27——Thiswasabusydaypassedinmeasuringoutthecamp。Isetseveralcompaniesatworktofelltheforestandtopreparetimberforbuilding。”April28——Pouringrain。Noworkpossible。”April29——TheEnglishmensetuptheirforgeandanvil；andwecommencedunloadingcorrugatedironsheetstoformourmagazines。
　　Fortunately，Ihadanumberofwall-plates，rafters，&c。，thatIhadbroughtfromEgyptforthispurpose，asthereisnostraightwoodinthecountry。”ThesheikorheadoftheShillooktribesentenvoyswithapresentoffourbullocksandtwosmalltusks，withamessagethathewishedtoseeme，buthewasafraidtocome。IaccordinglysentthemessengersbackintheNo。8steamerwithtensoldiersasanescorttobringhimtomystation。”April30——Wecommencederectingtheironmagazines。LieutenantBaker，Mr。Higginbotham，andtheEnglishmenallactivelyemployed，whileRaoufBeyandhisofficers，insteadofattendingtothepressingworkofformingthepermanentcamp，situnderatreeandsmokeanddrinkcoffeethroughouttheday。”Theartillerymenarenearlyallill；likewisemanyoftheEgyptianregiment，whiletheblacktroopsarewellandinexcellentspirits。
　　ThereisnodoubtthatforthisservicetheblacksareverysuperiortotheEgyptians：thesearefullofreligiousprejudicescombinedwithextremeignorance，andtheyfallsickwhendeprivedofthevegetablediettowhichtheyareaccustomedinEgypt。”IntheeveningthesteamerreturnedwiththetrueShillookking，accompaniedbytwoofhiswives，fourdaughters，andaretinueofaboutseventypeople。”
　　CHAPTERIV。
　　THECAMPATTEWFIKEEYAH。”May1——Thecampisbeginningtolookcivilized。Alreadytheunderwoodhasbeencleared，andthelargetreeswhichbordertheriverhavetheirseparateproprietors。Thereisnohomelikeashadytreeinatropicalclimate；herewearefortunateinhavingthefinestmimosas，whichformacoolscreen。Ihaveapportionedthelargesttreesamongthehigherofficers。TheEnglishquarterofthecampisalreadyarranged，andthewholeforceisundercanvas。Afewdaysagothiswasawilderness；nowtherearesomehundrednewtentsarrangedinperfectlystraightrowssoastoformstreets。Thisextensiveplotofwhitetents，occupyingafrontageoffourhundredyards，andbackedbythebrightgreenforest，looksveryimposingfromtheriver。”TheEnglishquarterwassweptclean，andasthesurfacesoilonthemarginoftheriverwasahardwhitesand，theplacequicklyassumedaneatandhomelyappearance。Ihadasofa，afewchairs，andacarpetarrangedbeneathabeautifulshadymimosa，whereIwaitedthearrivalofthetruekingoftheShillooks——QuatKare。”Inafewminuteshewasintroducedbyanaide-de-camp，accompaniedbytwowives，fourdaughters，andalargeretinue。LikealltheShillooks，hewasverytallandthin。Ashiswardrobelookedscantyandold，Iatoncegavehimalongblueshirtwhichnearlyreachedtohisankles，togetherwithanIndianredscarftowearasawaistband。WhenthusattiredIpresentedhimwithatarbooshfez；allofwhichpresentshereceivedwithoutasmileortheslightestacknowledgment。Whendressedwiththeassistanceoftwoorthreeofthesoldierswhohadvolunteeredtoactasvalets，hesatdownonthecarpet，uponwhichheinvitedhisfamilytositnearhim。Therewasaprofoundsilence。Thekingappearedtohavenopowerofspeech；hesimplyfixedhiseyesuponmyselfandmywife；thenslowlyturnedthemuponLieutenantBakerandtheofficersinattendance。Thecrowdwasperfectlysilent。”Iwasobligedtocommencetheconversationbyaskinghim`whetherhewasreallyQuatKare，theoldkingoftheShillooks?asIhadheardhisdeathreported。’”Insteadofreplying，heconferredwithoneofhiswives，awomanofaboutsixty，whoappearedtoactasprimeministerandadviser。Thisoldladyimmediatelytookupthediscourse，andverydeliberatelyrelatedtheintriguesoftheKoordigovernorofFashoda，whichhadendedintheruinofherhusband。ItappearedthattheKoordididnotwishthatpeaceshouldreignthroughouttheland。TheShillookswereapowerfultribe，numberingupwardsofamillion，thereforeitwasadvisabletosowdissensionamongstthem，andthusdestroytheirunity。QuatKarewasapowerfulking，whohadruledthecountryformorethanfiftyyears。Hewasthedirectdescendantofalonglineofkings；thereforehewasamanwhoseinfluencewastobedreaded。ThepolicyoftheKoordideterminedthathewouldoverthrowthepowerofQuatKare，andafterhavingvainlylaidsnaresforhiscapture，theoldkingfledfromthegovernorofFashodaasDavidfledfromSaulandhidinthecaveofAdullam。TheKoordiwascleverandcunninginintrigue；thus，hewrotetoDjiafferPacha，thegovernor-generaloftheSoudan，anddeclaredthatQuatKarethekingoftheShillookswasDEAD；itwasthereforenecessarytoelectthenextheir，JangyforwhomherequestedthefirmanoftheKhedive。ThefirmanoftheKhedivearrivedinduecourseforthepretenderJangy，whowasadistantconnexionofQuatKare，andinnowayentitledtothesuccession。Thisintriguethrewthecountryintoconfusion。JangywasproclaimedkingbytheKoordi，andwasdressedinascarletrobewithbeltandsabre。Thepretendergottogetheralargebandofadherentswhowerereadyforanyadventurethatmightyieldthemplunder。Thesenatives，whoknewthepathsandtheplaceswherethevastherdsofcattlewereconcealed，actedasguidestotheKoordi；andthefaithfuladherentsoftheoldking，QuatKare，wereplundered，oppressed，andenslavedwithoutmercy，untilthedaythatIhadfortunatelyarrivedintheShillookcountry，andcaughttheKoordiintheveryactofkidnapping。”Ihadheardthisstoryafewdaysbefore，andIwasmuchstruckwiththeclearandforciblemannerinwhichtheoldwifedescribedthehistory。”HerewehaveanaveragepictureofSoudanrule。Inacountryblessedwiththemostproductivesoilandfavourableclimate，withapopulationestimatedataboveamillion，theonlysteptowardsimprovement，aftersevenyearsofpossession，isasystemofplunderandmassacre。Insteadofpeace，aseriesofintrigueshavethrownthecountryintohopelessanarchy。Withagoodgovernment，thisfertilelandmightproduceenormouswealthinthecultivationofcornandcotton。Iarrangedwiththekingthatheshouldwaitpatiently，andthatIwouldbringtheaffairbeforetheproperauthority；inthemeantime，hispeopleshouldreturntotheirvillages。”Afterafeastuponanox，andtheentertainmentofthemagneticbatteryandthewheeloflife，IgaveQuatKare，andthevariousmembersofhisfamily，anassortmentofpresents，andsentthembackrejoicingintheNo。8steamer。Ihadbeenamusedbythestoicalcountenanceofthekingwhileundergoingasevereshockfromthebattery。Althougheverymuscleofhisarmswasquivering，heneveralteredtheexpressionofhisfeatures。Oneofhiswivesfollowedhisexample，andresistedashockwithgreatdetermination，andaftermanyattemptsshesucceededinextractinganecklacefromabasinofwatersohighlycharged，thatherhandwascompletelycrampedandparalysed。”Ihavethoroughlygainedtheconfidenceofthenatives，asvastherdsofcattlearenowfearlesslybroughttograzeonthelargeislandoppositethecamp。Thenativesassuremethatallthemalechildrenthatmaybebornthisyearwillbecalledthe`Pacha，’incommemorationofthereleasegiventothecaptives。”Asoldierwascaughtthisafternoonintheactofstealingafowlfromanative。Ihadhimfloggedandsecuredinironsforfivedays。Ihavedetermineduponthestrictestdiscipline，inspiteoftheoldprejudice。
　　AsthegreaterportionoftheEgyptianregimentiscomposedoffelons，convictedofoffencesinCairo，andtransportedtotheWhiteNile，mytaskisratherdifficultinestablishingareformation。Thegoodtasteoftheauthoritiesmightbequestionedforsupplyingmewitharegimentofconvictstocarryoutanenterprisewhereahighstateofdisciplineandgoodconductareessentialtosuccess。”
　　IgavethenameTewfikeeyah[*]tothenewstation，whichrapidlygrewintoaplaceofimportance。ItwastotallyunlikeanEgyptiancamp，asallthelineswerestraight。Deepditches，cutineverynecessarydirection，drainedthestationtotheriver。Imadeaquayabout500
　　yardsinlength，onthebankoftheriver，bywhichthewholefleetcouldlie，andembarkordisembarkcargo。Alargestablecontainedthetwentyhorses，whichbygreatcarehadkepttheircondition。Itwasabsolutelynecessarytokeeptheminadarkstableonaccountoftheflies，whichattackedallanimalsinswarms。Evenwithinthedarkenedbuildingitwasnecessarytolightfirescomposedofdriedhorse-dung，todriveawaythethesepersecutinginsects。Thehairfellcompletelyofftheearsandlegsofthedonkeyswhichwereallowedtorambleabout，owingtotheswarmsoffliesthatirritatedtheskin；butinspiteofthecomparativecomfortofastable，thedonkeyspreferredalifeofout-doorindependence，andfelloffinconditionifconfinedtoahouse。Theworstflieswerethesmallgreyspecies，withalongproboscis，similartothosethatareoftenseeninhousesinEngland。
　　[*Footnote：AftertheKhedive’seldestson，MahomedTewfikPacha]
　　Inanincrediblyshorttimethestationfellintoshape。Iconstructedthreemagazinesofgalvanizediron，eacheightyfeetinlength，andtheheadstorekeeper，Mr。Marcopolo，atlastcompletedhisarduoustaskofstoringtheimmenseamountofsuppliesthathadbeencontainedinthefleetofvessels。
　　ThisintroducedustotheWhiteNilerats，whichvolunteeredtheirservicesinthousands，andquicklytookpossessionofthemagazinesbytunnelingbeneath，andappearinginthemidstofarat’sparadise，amongthousandsofbushelsofrice，biscuits，lentils，&c。Thedestructioncausedbytheseanimalswasfrightful。Theygnawedholesinthesacks，andthecontentspoureduponthegroundlikesandfromanhour-glass，tobeimmediatelyattackedanddestroyedbywhiteants。Therewasnolimeinthecountry，norstoneofanykind，thusitwasabsolutelyimpossibletostoptheravagesofwhiteantsexceptbytheconstantlabourofturningoverthevastmassesofboxesandstores，tocleansethemfromtheearthengallerieswhichdenotetheirpresence。
　　IhadEuropeanvegetableseedsofallkinds，andhavingclearedandgrubbedupaportionofforest，wequicklyestablishedgardens。TheEnglishquarterwasparticularlyneat。Thevariousplotswereseparatedbyfences，andthegroundwasundercultivationforabouttwoacresextendingtothemarginoftheriver。Ididnotbuildahouseformyself，aswepreferredourcomfortablediahbeeah，whichwasmooredalongsidethegarden，fromtheentranceofwhich，awalkledtoacoupleoflargeshadymimosasthatformedmypublicdivan，whereallvisitorswerereceived。