his¡¡men¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡my¡¡camp¡¡without¡¡a¡¡second¡¡assurance¡¡in
writing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡made¡¡prisoner¡£
Of¡¡course¡¡he¡¡swore¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡given¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡he
declared¡¡that¡¡his¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Fatiko¡¡had¡¡only¡¡fired¡¡because¡¡they¡¡were
afraid¡¡that¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡who¡¡had¡¡accompanied¡¡me¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡attack
them¡£
I¡¡asked¡¡him£»¡¡¡¨If¡¡that¡¡were¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡why¡¡had¡¡they¡¡not¡¡communicated¡¡with
me£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡only¡¡ninety¡¡yards¡¡distant£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡said¡¡his¡¡people¡¡had¡¡not
fired¡¡at¡¡the¡¡government¡¡troops£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡at¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡who¡¡were¡¡upon
the¡¡rock¡£
He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡explain¡¡in¡¡that¡¡case¡¡¡¨how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡1£»000¡¡natives
perched¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡close¡¡together£»¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡without¡¡a¡¡man¡¡being
wounded£»¡¡while¡¡not¡¡only¡¡were¡¡seven¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡¡troops¡¡knocked¡¡down
by¡¡bullets£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡huts¡¡and¡¡furniture¡¡of¡¡our¡¡camp£»¡¡including¡¡boxes¡¡in
the¡¡magazine£»¡¡&c£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡completely¡¡riddled¡¡with¡¡balls¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡then¡¡began
to¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡blame¡¡on¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡had¡¡the¡¡audacity¡¡to¡¡declare
that¡¡¡¨he¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡slaves£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡restrain
his¡¡people¡¡from¡¡kidnapping¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡any¡¡human¡¡being¡¡pour¡¡out¡¡such
a¡¡cataract¡¡of¡¡lies¡¡as¡¡this¡¡scoundrel¡£¡¡His¡¡plausibility¡¡and¡¡assurance
were¡¡such¡¡that¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡aghast£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡delivered¡¡a¡¡long¡¡speech£»
in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡¡¨he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡innocent¡¡victim¡¡of¡¡adverse
circumstances£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡every¡¡one¡¡was¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡could¡¡merely¡¡reply
by¡¡dismissing¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡assurance¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡¡¨only¡¡one¡¡really
good¡¡and¡¡honest¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡who¡¡invariably¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡this
man¡¡was¡¡ABOU¡¡SAOOD¡£¡¡All¡¡other¡¡men¡¡were¡¡liars¡£¡¨
On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡morning¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡came¡¡to¡¡take¡¡leave¡£¡¡He¡¡pretended¡¡to
devote¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡my¡¡service£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡now¡¡at¡¡once
return¡¡to¡¡Fabbo¡¡and¡¡organize¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡his¡¡people¡¡into¡¡an¡¡irregular
corps¡¡for¡¡the¡¡government£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡should¡¡act¡¡with¡¡energy¡¡as¡¡my¡¡vakeel£»
and¡¡assist¡¡me¡¡in¡¡every¡¡manner¡¡possible¡£¡¡He¡¡begged¡¡me¡¡not¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡a
word¡¡that¡¡any¡¡one¡¡might¡¡say¡¡EXCEPT¡¡HIMSELF£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡swore¡¡by¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡and
head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophet¡¡£¨this¡¡was¡¡his¡¡favourite¡¡oath¡¡whenever¡¡he¡¡told¡¡the
biggest¡¡lie£©¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡one¡¡so¡¡true¡¡to¡¡me¡¡as¡¡he£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡would
prove¡¡by¡¡his¡¡acts¡£¡¡He¡¡then¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Fabbo¡£
This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡that¡¡I¡¡ever¡¡saw¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡took¡¡200¡¡men¡¡upon
his¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡Fabbo£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡having¡¡told¡¡his¡¡men¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡throat¡¡of
the¡¡sheik¡¡Werdella£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡prisoner¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Fabbo¡¡camp¡¡under¡¡my
special¡¡orders¡¡for¡¡protection£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡Gondokoro¡¡to¡¡his
friend¡¡Raouf¡¡Bey¡£
This¡¡officer£»¡¡who¡¡commanded¡¡at¡¡head¡quarters¡¡during¡¡my¡¡absence£»¡¡although
he¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡Abou¡¡Saood's¡¡people¡¡of¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡at¡¡Fatiko£»
and¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡without¡¡either¡¡a¡¡passport¡¡or¡¡letters¡¡from
myself£»¡¡positively¡¡allowed¡¡him¡¡to¡¡depart¡¡to¡¡Khartoum¡£
At¡¡Khartoum¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡spread¡¡every¡¡conceivable¡¡false¡¡report¡£¡¡¡¡Thence¡¡he
travelled¡¡to¡¡Cairo£»¡¡expressly¡¡to¡¡complain¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Khedive's¡¡government¡¡of
the¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡treated¡¡by¡¡me¡£
Thus¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡slave¡trader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Nile£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡so¡¡closely
connected¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Soudan¡¡government¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tenant¡¡who¡¡had¡¡rented
a¡¡country¡¡WHICH¡¡DID¡¡NOT¡¡BELONG¡¡TO¡¡EGYPT£»¡¡now¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡that¡¡government
for¡¡protection¡¡against¡¡my¡¡interference¡¡with¡¡his¡¡murders£»¡¡kidnapping£»¡¡and
pillaging£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡the¡¡accompaniments¡¡of¡¡his¡¡slave¡hunting¡¡in¡¡Central
Africa¡£
The¡¡fact¡¡of¡¡this¡¡renowned¡¡slave¡hunter¡¡having¡¡the¡¡audacity¡¡to¡¡appeal¡¡to
the¡¡Egyptian¡¡authorities¡¡for¡¡assistance£»¡¡at¡¡once¡¡exhibits¡¡the¡¡confidence
that¡¡the¡¡slave¡traders¡¡felt¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moral¡¡support¡¡of¡¡certain¡¡official
personages¡¡who¡¡represented¡¡public¡¡opinion¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hatred¡¡to¡¡the
principal¡¡object¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expedition¡£
The¡¡various¡¡links¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chain¡¡which¡¡united¡¡the¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡Abou¡¡Saood
with¡¡certain¡¡officers¡¡who¡¡were¡¡opposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enterprise
will¡¡be¡¡at¡¡once¡¡perceived¡£
From¡¡the¡¡very¡¡commencement£»¡¡this¡¡man¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡intriguer¡¡who
had¡¡endeavoured¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡the¡¡expedition¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡fraternized¡¡with¡¡the
Baris¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡at¡¡open¡¡war¡¡with¡¡the¡¡government¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡incited¡¡the
tribes¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡length¡¡his¡¡own¡¡companies¡¡had¡¡fired¡¡at¡¡me¡¡by
his¡¡orders¡£¡¡HE¡¡NOW¡¡SOUGHT¡¡THE¡¡PROTECTION¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡EGYPTIAN¡¡GOVERNMENT¡¡AT
CAIRO¡£
We¡¡shall¡¡now¡¡leave¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡in¡¡Cairo£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡spread¡¡the¡¡false¡¡report
of¡¡the¡¡massacre¡¡of¡¡Lady¡¡Baker¡¡and¡¡myself£»¡¡which¡¡reached¡¡England¡¡and
appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡newspapers¡¡in¡¡April¡¡1873¡£
After¡¡Abou¡¡Saood's¡¡departure¡¡from¡¡Fabbo£»¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek
began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡felt£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡men¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡government¡¡standard¡£
Nevertheless£»¡¡that¡¡station¡¡was¡¡a¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡anarchy¡£¡¡The¡¡slave¡hunters
were¡¡divided¡¡among¡¡themselves¡£¡¡The¡¡party¡¡that¡¡followed¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek¡¡were
nearly¡¡all¡¡Soudanis£»¡¡like¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Arabs¡¡were¡¡split¡¡up¡¡into
companies£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡elected¡¡a¡¡separate¡¡leader¡£¡¡This¡¡dissension
was¡¡exactly¡¡what¡¡I¡¡desired£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡played¡¡the¡¡game¡¡accordingly¡£¡¡As¡¡I¡¡have
before¡¡stated£»¡¡I¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡physical¡¡force¡£
Ali¡¡Genninar£»¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡had¡¡engaged¡¡at¡¡Masindi£»¡¡was¡¡an¡¡excellent¡¡fellow£»
and¡¡before¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡deserted¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡first¡¡man¡¡to
arrive¡¡at¡¡Fatike¡¡and¡¡unite¡¡with¡¡the¡¡government¡£¡¡He¡¡now¡¡collected
sixty¡five¡¡men£»¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡at¡¡once¡¡enrolled£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡given¡¡them¡¡their
government¡¡flags£»¡¡I¡¡started¡¡them¡¡off¡¡without¡¡delay¡¡to¡¡support¡¡Rionga¡¡in
Unyoro£»¡¡and¡¡recalled¡¡Abd¡el¡Kader¡¡and¡¡his¡¡troops¡¡to¡¡Fatiko¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same
time¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡Rionga¡¡many¡¡valuable¡¡presents¡£
There¡¡were¡¡several¡¡terrible¡¡scoundrels¡¡at¡¡Fabbo£»¡¡among¡¡whom¡¡was
Salim¡Wat¡Howah£»¡¡who£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡Lazim£»¡¡had¡¡threatened¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡Major
Abdullah¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡camp¡¡during¡¡my¡¡absence¡¡in¡¡Unyoro¡£
I¡¡had¡¡Lazim¡¡in¡¡irons¡¡at¡¡Fatiko£»¡¡but¡¡Salim¡Wat¡Howah¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡on¡¡the
day¡¡of¡¡attack¡£¡¡This¡¡man¡¡Salim¡¡was¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡villains¡¡at
Fabbo£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡band¡¡of¡¡about¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡men¡¡daily¡¡sallied¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡zareeba¡¡and¡¡plundered¡¡and¡¡burnt¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡in¡¡open¡¡defiance
of¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek¡£
When¡¡these¡¡ruffians¡¡captured¡¡women£»¡¡they¡¡now¡¡cut¡¡their¡¡throats¡¡and¡¡threw
them¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Un¡y¡Ame¡¡river£»¡¡explaining¡¡to¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡that¡¡they¡¡defied
me¡¡to¡¡¡¨liberate¡¨¡¡them¡¡when¡¡their¡¡throats¡¡were¡¡cut¡£
Every¡¡day¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡me¡¡from¡¡Fabbo¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡dreadful
tales¡¡of¡¡atrocities¡£
The¡¡time¡¡had¡¡now¡¡arrived¡¡when¡¡I¡¡could¡¡make¡¡the¡¡move¡¡that¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡sure
would¡¡reduce¡¡the¡¡country¡¡to¡¡order¡£
The¡¡slave¡hunters¡¡were¡¡in¡¡this¡¡position¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡Ali¡¡Germinar¡¡with
sixty¡five¡¡men¡¡to¡¡Unyoro£»¡¡200¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡off¡¡with¡¡Abou¡¡Saood£»¡¡100
reprobates¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡Salim¡Wat¡Howah£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡remainder¡¡were¡¡true¡¡to
Wat¡el¡Mek¡£
I¡¡therefore¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡message¡¡to¡¡Fabbo£»¡¡which¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek¡¡would¡¡make¡¡public
in¡¡the¡¡zareeba£º¡¡¡¨that£»¡¡having¡¡received¡¡daily¡¡complaints¡¡from¡¡the¡¡natives
of¡¡outrages¡¡committed¡¡by¡¡Salim¡Wat¡Howah¡¡and¡¡his¡¡company£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my
intention¡¡in¡¡forty¡¡eight¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡Fabbo¡¡with¡¡the¡¡troops£»¡¡together
with¡¡the¡¡native¡¡witnesses¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outrages¡¡complained¡¡of¡£¡¨
I¡¡ordered¡¡¡¨all¡¡those¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡enlisted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡government¡¡service£»
together¡¡with¡¡all¡¡others¡¡who¡¡were¡¡true¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Khedive£»¡¡to¡¡retire¡¡from
the¡¡Fabbo¡¡station¡¡to¡¡Faloro£º¡¡thus¡¡Fabbo¡¡alone¡¡would¡¡represent¡¡the
malcontents¡£¡¨
I¡¡felt¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dissension¡¡which¡¡had¡¡existed¡¡among¡¡the¡¡various
parties¡¡would¡¡now¡¡break¡¡out¡¡anew£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡Salim¡Wat¡Howah£»¡¡fearing¡¡a
personal¡¡visit¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡would¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡example¡¡of¡¡his¡¡master£»¡¡Abou
Saood£»¡¡and¡¡fly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡country¡£
The¡¡hint¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡given¡¡respecting¡¡the¡¡retirement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡loyal¡¡people
to¡¡Faloro£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡Fabbo¡¡would¡¡represent¡¡the¡¡disloyal£»¡¡would¡¡be
sufficient¡¡warning¡¡that¡¡physical¡¡force¡¡was¡¡intended£»¡¡should¡¡other¡¡means
fail¡£
The¡¡day¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek¡¡published¡¡the¡¡proclamation¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of
general¡¡consternation¡¡in¡¡Fabbo¡£
Wat¡el¡Mek¡¡left¡¡the¡¡station¡¡with¡¡his¡¡Soudanis¡£
Salim¡Wat¡Howah¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡suddenly¡¡sprang¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡vakeel£»¡¡Suleiman£»
and¡¡having¡¡secured¡¡him£»¡¡while¡¡others¡¡broke¡¡open¡¡the¡¡powder¡magazine£»
they¡¡possessed¡¡themselves¡¡of¡¡three¡¡cases¡¡£¨1£»500¡¡rounds£©¡¡of
ball¡cartridge£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flags¡¡of¡¡the¡¡station¡£¡¡With¡¡this¡¡prize
they¡¡marched¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡zareeba¡¡with¡¡their¡¡slaves£»¡¡who¡¡carried¡¡their
luggage£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡road¡¡towards¡¡Latooka£»¡¡about¡¡nine¡¡days'¡¡march
distant¡£
Without¡¡firing¡¡a¡¡shot£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thus¡¡won¡¡the¡¡game¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡bad¡¡people¡¡had
found¡¡the¡¡country¡¡too¡¡hot¡¡for¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡remaining¡¡men¡¡received
certificates£»¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡corps¡¡of¡¡irregulars¡¡to¡¡312¡¡officers¡¡and
men£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡were¡¡nominally¡¡under¡¡Wat¡el¡Mek£»¡¡although¡¡Ali¡¡Genninar
held¡¡a¡¡separate¡¡command¡¡in¡¡Unyoro¡£¡¡I¡¡now¡¡strengthened¡¡his¡¡party¡¡by¡¡a
reinforcement¡£
From¡¡this¡¡date£»¡¡the¡¡victory¡¡was¡¡gained£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡only¡¡thank¡¡God¡¡for
the¡¡great¡¡success¡¡that¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡all¡¡my¡¡efforts¡£¡¡The¡¡slave¡hunting
was¡¡now¡¡at¡¡an¡¡end¡¡throughout¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡district£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡slave¡hunters
had¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡exist¡¡south¡¡of¡¡Gondokoro¡£¡¡Excepting¡¡Unyoro£»¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of
bloodshed¡¡were¡¡past¡£¡¡The¡¡¡¨Forty¡¡Thieves¡¨£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡gallantly¡¡stood¡¡by
me¡¡through¡¡every¡¡difficulty£»¡¡never¡¡again¡¡had¡¡an¡¡enemy¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡was
devoutly¡¡thankful¡¡for¡¡days¡¡of¡¡peace¡£¡¡£¨All¡¡readers¡¡will¡¡share¡¡my¡¡deep
regret£»¡¡that¡¡since¡¡my¡¡departure¡¡from¡¡Central¡¡Africa¡¡this¡¡gallant¡¡body¡¡of
men£»¡¡together¡¡with¡¡the¡¡French¡¡officer¡¡in¡¡command£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡Linant¡¡de
Bellefonds£»¡¡fell¡¡victims¡¡to¡¡a¡¡surprise¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Baris¡¡in¡¡the¡¡district¡¡of
Moogi¡£¡¡Colonel¡¡Gordon£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡towing¡¡a¡¡steamer¡¡through¡¡the
rapids£»¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡M¡£¡¡Linant¡¡de¡¡Bellefonds¡¡with¡¡forty¡¡sniders¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a
reconnaissance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Moogi¡¡natives¡¡had
become¡¡hostile¡£¡¡The¡¡force¡¡was¡¡supplied¡¡with¡¡thirty¡¡rounds¡¡of
ball¡cartridge¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pouches¡¡together¡¡with¡¡two¡¡boxes¡¡£¨1000¡¡rounds£©¡¡of
spare¡¡ammunition¡£¡¡Only¡¡four¡¡soldiers¡¡escaped¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡of
destruction¡££©
My¡¡task¡¡was¡¡now¡¡full¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡gratification¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡established
perfect¡¡confidence¡¡among¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡throughout¡¡the¡¡large¡¡country¡¡of
Shooli¡£¡¡The¡¡Lira¡¡tribe¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡their¡¡allegiance£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡friends
upon¡¡all¡¡sides¡£
I¡¡had¡¡as¡¡usual¡¡planted¡¡gardens¡¡at¡¡Fatiko£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡flourishing¡£¡¡The
natives¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡concealed¡¡their¡¡stores¡¡of¡¡corn£»¡¡but¡¡dancing¡¡and
rejoicing¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡watchfulness¡¡and¡¡insecurity¡£
The¡¡children¡¡and¡¡women¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡our¡¡camp£»¡¡and¡¡marketing¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡large
scale¡¡was¡¡conducted¡¡without¡¡a¡¡squabble¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡good¡¡men£»¡¡Shooli¡¡and
Gimoro£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡dail