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： 〃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： 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