Onthe20thwemarched，from6A。M。till9。45，throughundulatingforest，andhalteduponhighground，whichcommandedafineviewofthemountainthatbordersthewestshoreoftheAlbertN’yanza，oppositeMagungo，aboutfifty-fivemilesS。S。W。Fromourelevatedpointwelookeddownoverafineextentofcountry，andtheFatikonativespointedoutthecourseoftheWhiteNilefromthegreatlake，alongwhichwasalineofsmoke，caused，accordingtotheiraccounts，bythefishermenwhowereatthisseasonburningthehighreedsontheriver’sbank。
　　Thenativeswerethoroughlyconversantwiththecountry，astheyhadonseveraloccasionsaccompaniedtheslave-huntersinrazziasalongtherivertoFoquatchandMagungo。Justaswehalted，apartyofUmirohunterscameacrossourpath，butimmediatelytooktoflight，astheysupposedwewereenemies。
　　Theday’smarchhadbeenthirteenmiles，andwewererequestedbyourguide，Shooli，tohaltforthenight，astherewasnowaterforaconsiderabledistancetothesouth。
　　Iimmediatelyemployedthesoldiersintheconstructionofacattlekraal，lesttheprowlingUmiroshouldendeavourtoscaretheanimalsduringthenight。
　　On21stMarchwestartedat6A。M。，andmarchedthirteenmilesthroughforest。Weatlengthreachedwater，butitwassothickwithmudthatthehorsesrefusedtodrinkit。
　　Onthe22ndwewerecompelledtomarchtwenty-threemiles，asthewaterwasquiteundrinkable，thefewmuddypoolshavingbeenstirredintopastebythebuffaloesandelephants。
　　WenowreachedthegrandVictoriaNile，flowingbeneathcliffsofseventyoreightyfeetindepth，throughmagnificentforest。Itwasrefreshingforallpartiestoobtainpurewaterafterthemiserablefluidwehadlatelybeencompelledtodrink。
　　Intheeveningasheikandseveralpeople，whohadknownmeformerly，crossedtheriverfromtheUnyoroside，anddesiredaninterview。TheyreportedthattheKhartoumtradershadalmostdestroyedthecountry，andtheybeggedmesimplytojudgewithmyowneyes。
　　Imustnowextractfrommyjournaltheentryofthedate，as，althoughbrieflywritten，itwillconveytheimpressionofthemoment：——”March23，1872——Wemarchedthreemileseast，alongthebanksofthebeautifulVictoriaNile，throughfineopenforest，untilwehaltedonahighcliffexactlyopposite，thelaststationofAbouSaood，commandedbyavakeelnamedSuleiman。”ItisimpossibletodescribethechangethathastakenplacesinceI
　　lastvisitedthiscountry。Itwasthenaperfectgarden，thicklypopulated，andproducingallthatmancoulddesire。Thevillageswerenumerous；grovesofplantainsfringedthesteepcliff’sontheriver’sbank；andthenativeswereneatlydressedinthebarkclothofthecountry。”Thescenehaschanged！”Alliswilderness！Thepopulationhasfled。Notavillageistobeseen！”ThisisthecertainresultofthesettlementofKhartoumtraders。Theykidnapthewomenandchildrenforslaves，andplunderanddestroywherevertheysettheirfoot。”SeleimanandEddrees，twovakeels，whowerewellknowntomeasformingaportionofIbrahim’spartyonmyformerjourney，nowcameacrosstherivertovisitme。”ThecunningAbouSaoodhasnevertoldthemoftheexpirationofthegovernmentcontractwithAgad&Co。，neitherhadtheyanywarningofmyexpectedarrival。”Iexplainedtheexactstateofaffairs。”Theprincipalsheikofthedistrict，withmanypeople，cametoseeme。
　　Thechief，Quonga，wasoneofmyoldacquaintances，andwasformerlythefavouriteadviserofKamrasi。”Kamrasidiedabouttwoyearsago。Hissonsfoughtforthesuccession，andeachaspirantsoughttheaidofthetraders。ThiscivilstrifeexactlysuitedtheinterestsofthetreacherousKhartoumers。Theseveralcompaniesofslave-huntersscatteredovertheMadi，Shooli，andUnyorocountriesrepresentedonlyoneinterest，thatoftheiremployers，AgadandCo。”Eachcompany，commandedbyitsindependentvakeel，arrivedinUnyoro，andsupportedthecauseofeachantagonisticpretendertothethrone，andtreacherouslyworkedfortheruinofall，exceptinghimwhowouldbeabletosupplythelargestamountofivoryandslaves。”ThefavouritesonsofKamrasiwereKabbaRegaandKabkaMiro，whiletheoldenemyofthefamily，Rionga，thecousinofKamrasi，againappeareduponthescene。”ThecompaniesofAbouSaoodsupportedallthree，receivingivoryandslavesfromeachasthehireofmercenarytroops；andatlengththeyplayedouttheirgamebyshootingKabkaMiro，andsecuringthethronetoKabbaRega。”TheyarrangedwithRiongathatheshouldbeostensiblybanishedtoaconvenientdistance，tobereadyasatrumpcard，shouldoccasionrequire，againstthenewking，KabbaRega。”IexplainedthenewreformtoQuonga，andIgavehimthefollowingpresentsforKabbaRega，whoresidesaboutsixdays’marchsouth-westofthisspot：——”OnepieceentireofTurkeyredcloth，onepiecegreycalico，twelvepoundsofbeadsofthefinestvarieties，threezincmirrors，tworazors，onelongbutcher’sknife，twopairscissors，onebrassbugle，oneGermanhorn，twopiecesofredandyellowhandkerchiefs，onepieceofyellowditto，onepeacockIndianscarf，oneblueblanket，sixGermansilverspoons，sixteenpairsofvariouscar-rings，twelvefinger-rings，twodozenmuleharnessbells，sixelasticheavybrassspringwires，onepoundlongwhitehorsehair，threecombs，onepapier-machetray，oneboxwoodfife，onekaleidoscope。”Iproclaimeduponallsidesthatthereignofterrorwasended。AsI
　　formerly，whenalone，haddefendedKamrasi，anddrivenouttheinvadersunderWat-el-Mek，byhoistingtheEnglishensign，sonowIwouldtakethecountryundermyprotectionwithapowerfulforce。”IgaveQuongaandallhissheikspresentsofbeads，andshockedthempowerfullywiththemagneticbattery，leavingastrongimpression。”March24-IwroteofficiallytoSuleiman，thevakeelofAgad&Co。，togivehimwarning’thatsixteendayshencethecontractwouldexpire，andthatheandallhispeoplemustbereadytoevacuatethecountryandreturntoKhartoumonthatday。Thatanypersonwhoshouldremainafterthisnoticewouldbeimprisoned。That，shouldheoranyofhispeoplewishtoenlistintheserviceofthegovernmentasirregulartroops，theirnamesmustbehandedinbeforetheexpirationoftwodays。’”SuleimandeclaredhiswillingnesstoenlisttogetherwithEddreesandseveralothers。”Hetoldmethatnothingcouldbeprocuredinthecountry。ThankGodI
　　leftagoodreputationheresevenyearsago；thusIshallbeabletopurchasefood。”Thismorningmyoldacquaintance，Keedja，formerlychiefofAtada，cametoseemewithmanyofhispeople，andwithperfectconfidencetheycommencedatrade，bringingprovisionsinexchangeforbeads。Theypromisedtoarriveto-morrow，andtoestablishadailymarketatourcamp。”KeedjaexplainsthatheandhispeoplehavebeenobligedtoflyfromthedepredationsofthecompaniesofAbouSaood，thustheyhavesettledintheforestonthenorthsideoftheriver，andhavecultivatedfarms。
　　Theyhaveveryfewclothes，astheirbark-clothtreesareonthesouthsideoftheriverintheiroldplantations。”Allthepeopledeclaretheywillnowreturntotheiroldhabitationsandre-cultivatethelandasinformerdays。”Ifoundthatthenativeswhoranfromusonthemarch，anddroppedtheirelephantspears，wereKeedja’speople，thusIreturnedtothemthethreespearsandanaxe，totheirgreatastonishment。Apartyofnativehuntershadbeenscaredduringourmarchbyoursuddenappearance。”Theelephantspearswereofakindusedfromtrees。Thebladeisabouttwentyincheslong，thehandleabouttwenty-fourinches。Theendofthehandleisheavilyweightedwithalumpofseveralpounds，composedofclay，cow-dung，andchoppedstraw，andtheweapon，beautifullysharpened，isdroppedupontheelephant’sbackbyahunterfromthebranchesofatree。Theconstantmovementoftheheavyhandleasitstrikestheboughswhentheelephantrushesthroughtheforest，cutstheanimalsoterriblythatitbleedstodeath。Thehuntersfollowonthebloodtrackuntiltheyfindthedyinganimal。”March25——Suleiman，thevakeel，summonedhismentovolunteerforthegovernmentserviceasirregulartroops。”Iissuedawrittenproclamation，thatshouldvolunteersenlist，thetermofservicewouldbeannual，subjecttothreemonths’notice，shouldanyofficerorprivatewishtoretireattheexpirationoftwelvemonths。”Therankofthevakeelwouldbeequivalenttothatofmajorintheregulararmy。”Thepaywouldbeequaltothatofregulartroops。”IfIcanformaregimentof600irregularsIshallbeindependentoftroopsfromKhartoum。”March26——Quongaandmanyothersheiksarrived，andwerequitedelightedwiththewheeloflife。”Thenativesaresellingsweetpotatoesandtobaccoforbeads，butflourisbroughtinverysmallquantities。”March27——Provisionsarecominginsoslowlythatweshallbeshortoffood。UponthearrivalofQuongaandhissheiks，Imakeahotcomplaint；hecoldlytoldmethatitwouldbebetterifthesoldiersweretoforageforthemselves。”IexplainedtohimtherigiddisciplinethatIenforced，andthat，shouldIoncepermitthieving，thetroops’characterwouldbeentirelyruined，andtheywouldpillagethroughouttheroute。”Herepliedthatthisneighbourhoodwasinastateofanarchy；thatmanyoftheinhabitantswerehostiletoKabbaRega，andtheywouldnotobeyhisorders。”Itoldhimthatmytroopswerelambsifwellfed，buttheywerelikelionsifhungry，andtoprovetheirnumberIwouldsummonthembeforehim。”Thebuglesoundedthe’taboor，’andupwardsof100menimmediatelyfellinwithbayonetsfixed，tothenosmalldismayofQuongaandhissheiks，whobegantolookveryuneasyatthescarletuniforms。Byacoupdetheatre，Imarchedthemen，withbuglesanddrumsplaying，roundthenumeroushuts，sothattheyreappearedtwicebeforethetent，andthusdoubledtheirrealnumber。”Atthehaltanddismissal，theyshoutedtheirusualwildcryinTurkish，inhonouroftheircommander。”’Doyouunderstandwhattheysay?’IaskedQuonga。Tohisnegativereply，Ianswered，’Theysaytheywilleatfromthecountryifprovisionsarenotsuppliedto-morrow！’”Quongaandhissheiksstartedoffimmediatelytogivethenecessaryorders。”UponhisreturnItoldhim’toadviseKabbaRegatobehaveinadifferentmannertotheconductofhisfather，thelateKamrasi。Ihadreturnedtothiscountrytobestowprosperityupontheland；thatifKabbaRegameantfairdealingandlegitimatetrade，hemustacthonourablyandsincerely；ifIshouldfindanysignsofunfairness，I
　　shouldpassondirecttoUganda，theCountryofM’tese，andhewouldreceivethegoodsIhadintendedforUnyoro。’”Negroesaregreatdeceivers，especiallythenativesofUnyoro。Ihavebeads，cattle，merchandise，andeveryarticlenecessarytopurchaseflourandpotatoes：nevertheless，ourwantsarenotsupplied。Thecattlearedying，asthechangeofherbagedoesnotagreewiththem；thisisasadloss。OneoftheAfricandifficultiesconsistsinthemortalityofthecattlewhenchangingdistricts。”March28——Thegreatsheik，Lokara，whoisthecommander-in-chiefofKabbaRega’sforces，arrived。ThismanhasleftalargearmyonthebanksoftheNile，afewhours’marchupstream，readytoattackRionga，whoissettled，withhispeople，onanislandintheriver。Ofcourseheiscometorequestmilitaryaid。Thisistheoldstory。UponmylastvisitIwasboredalmosttodeathbyKamrasi，withrequeststhatIwouldassisthimtoattackRionga。IhaveonlybeenhereforafewdayswhenI
　　amtroubledwiththeoldtune。”March29——Provisionsareveryscarce；thepeoplehavebeenfightingforsomanyyearsthatcultivationhasbeenmuchneglected，andthenativesliveprincipallyuponplantains。”IgaveSuleiman，thevakeel，fivecowsyesterday。HedeclaresthatAbouSaoodtoldhimthatmytermofservicewiththeEgyptiangovernmenthadexpired，thereforetheentirecountrywasnowinhishands。Thisliar，AbouSaood，willsomedayreapthefruitsofhistreachery。”IorderedthegovernmentflagtobehoistedinSuleiman’scamp，andthevakeel，Suleiman，calleduponallthosewhowerewillingtoenlistintheserviceoftheKhedivetoassemblebeneaththeensign。Sixty-onemenregisteredtheirnames。”Theonlydifficultyistherateofwages。Ioffertheprivatessixtypiastresthepiastreequalstwopence-halfpennypermonth，i。e。，thirtypiastresasequalpaytothatoftheregulars，andthirtypiastresinlieuofclothes。Formerlythesebrigandsnominallyreceivedfiftyandfifty-fivepiastres，inadditiontoonethirdofallcattlethatmightbecapturedinrazzias。”ShouldIbeabletoestablishasmallirregularcorpsasacommencement，theexpensewouldbeconsiderableinproportiontotheactualproceedsinivory。Thepositionisdifficult。”Aradicalchangethroughoutthecountryisabsolutelynecessary。Thecompanieshavehithertopurchasedivorywithslavesandcattle；thusallcountriesinwhichthiscustomhasbeenestablished，mustbeabandoneduntilthenativeswillsellivoryinexchangeforgoods。”Theexpenseswillcontinue，orperhapsaugment，whiletheivoryproducemustdecreaseforthefirsttwelvemonths，oruntilthepeoplewillunderstandandacceptthereform。”Withoutanirregularforceitwillbeimpossibletoholdthecountry，andatthesametimetocarryontheworkofgovernment。TheforcethatIoriginallyproposed，of1，650，isabsolutelyrequiredtooccupyachainofstationsfromGondokoro。”March30——Thecowsaredyingingreatnumbers，andthenativesarebringinglargequantitiesofpotatoesinexchangefortheflesh，butthereisnocorninthecountry。”Thedaysandnightsarenowcloudyandshowery。”LokaraandQuongacamethismorning，butnomessengerhasyetarrivedfromKabbaRega。