approaching from Khartoum； with a strong N。E。 wind； and shortly
afterwards we were delighted by the arrival of Mr。 Higginbotham； Dr。
Gedge； and the six English engineers； shipwrights； &c。； all in good
health。
〃April 22。I paid a visit to the Koordi's camp； accompanied by Mr。
Baker and Mr。 Higginbotham； as I wished to have European witnesses to
the fact。 Upon arrival； I explained to the governor that he had
compromised the Egyptian Government by his act； and as I had received
general instructions from the Khedive to suppress all slave…hunters； I
could only regard him in that category； as I had actually found him in
the act。 I must； therefore； insist upon the immediate and unconditional
release of all the slaves。 After an attempt at evasion； he consented；
and I at once determined to liberate them personally； which would
establish confidence among the natives。
〃Accompanied by Lieutenant Baker and Mr。 Higginbotham； and the various
officers of the staff； I ordered the ropes； irons； and other
accompaniments of slavery to be detached； and I explained through an
interpreter to the astonished crowd of captives； that the Khedive had
abolished slavery； therefore they were at liberty to return to their own
homes。 At first； they appeared astounded； and evidently could not
realize the fact； but upon my asking them where their homes were； they
pointed to the boundless rows of villages in the distance； and said；
‘Those are our homes； but many of our men are killed； and all our cattle
and corn are carried off。' I could only advise them to pack off as
quickly as possible； now that they had the chance of freedom。
〃The women immediately took up their little infants （one had been born
during the night）； others led the very small children by the hand； and
with a general concert； they burst into the long； quavering； and shrill
yell that denotes rejoicing。 I watched them as they retreated over the
plain to their deserted homes； and I took a coldly polite farewell of
the Koordi。 The looks of astonishment of the Koordi's troops as I passed
through their camp were almost comic。 I shall report this affair to the
Khedive direct； but I feel sure that the exposure of the governor of
Fashoda will not add to the popularity of the expedition among the lower
officials。
〃April 23。I started with two steamers and two diahbeeahs to explore a
favourable spot for a permanent station。 We reached the Sobat junction
in three hours and a quarter； about twenty…five miles。 From the Sobat；
down stream； we steamed for forty minutes； arriving at a forest； on a
high bank to the east； where some extraordinary high dome palms （palma
Thebaica）； together with dolape palms （Borassus Ethiopicus）； gave an air
of tropical beauty to a desolate and otherwise uninviting spot。
〃I fixed upon this place for a station as the ground was hard； the
position far above the level of high floods； and the forest afforded a
supply of wood for building purposes and fuel。
〃April 24。We steamed for half…an…hour down stream to a large village
on the west bank； named Wat…a…jook。 Thence I went down stream for one
hour to the grove of dolape palms and gigantic India rubber trees。 This
was formerly a large village； known as Hillet…el…dolape； but it has been
entirely destroyed by the governor of Fashoda。 After much difficulty； I
induced some natives to come to me； with whom I at length made friends：
they all joined in accusing the Koordi governor of wanton atrocities。
〃In the afternoon； not having discovered a spot superior to that I had
already selected for a station； we returned； but we had not travelled
more than an hour and a half when the engine of the No。 10 steamer broke
down。 On examination； it appeared that the air pump was broken。
Fortunately the accident occurred close to the spot selected for a
station。
〃April 25。At 12。30 p。m。 I sent back the No。 8 steamer to call the
fleet to the station。 I soon made friends with the natives； great
numbers of whom congregated on the west bank of the river。 All these
people had heard that I had liberated the women and children。
〃April 26。The steamer and entire fleet arrived in the afternoon。
〃The natives brought a bullock and a Pongo slave as a present from the
chief。 I freed the slave； and sent a piece of cloth as an introduction
to the chief。
〃April 27。This was a busy day passed in measuring out the camp。 I set
several companies at work to fell the forest and to prepare timber for
building。
〃April 28。Pouring rain。 No work possible。
〃April 29。The Englishmen set up their forge and anvil； and we
commenced unloading corrugated iron sheets to form our magazines。
Fortunately； I had a number of wall…plates； rafters； &c。； that I had
brought from Egypt for this purpose； as there is no straight wood in the
country。
〃The sheik or head of the Shillook tribe sent envoys with a present of
four bullocks and two small tusks； with a message that he wished to see
me； but he was afraid to come。 I accordingly sent the messengers back in
the No。 8 steamer with ten soldiers as an escort to bring him to my
station。
〃April 30。We commenced erecting the iron magazines。 Lieutenant Baker；
Mr。 Higginbotham； and the Englishmen all actively employed； while Raouf
Bey and his officers； instead of attending to the pressing work of
forming the permanent camp； sit under a tree and smoke and drink coffee
throughout the day。
〃The artillerymen are nearly all ill； likewise many of the Egyptian
regiment； while the black troops are well and in excellent spirits。
There is no doubt that for this service the blacks are very superior to
the Egyptians： these are full of religious prejudices combined with
extreme ignorance； and they fall sick when deprived of the vegetable
diet to which they are accustomed in Egypt。
〃In the evening the steamer returned with the true Shillook king；
accompanied by two of his wives； four daughters； and a retinue of about
seventy people。〃
CHAPTER IV。
THE CAMP AT TEWFIKEEYAH。
〃May 1。The camp is beginning to look civilized。 Already the underwood
has been cleared； and the large trees which border the river have their
separate proprietors。 There is no home like a shady tree in a tropical
climate； here we are fortunate in having the finest mimosas； which form
a cool screen。 I have apportioned the largest trees among the higher
officers。 The English quarter of the camp is already arranged； and the
whole force is under canvas。 A few days ago this was a wilderness； now
there are some hundred new tents arranged in perfectly straight rows so
as to form streets。 This extensive plot of white tents； occupying a
frontage of four hundred yards； and backed by the bright green forest；
looks very imposing from the river。
〃The English quarter was swept clean； and as the surface soil on the
margin of the river was a hard white sand； the place quickly assumed a
neat and homely appearance。 I had a sofa； a few chairs； and a carpet
arranged beneath a beautiful shady mimosa； where I waited the arrival of
the true king of the ShillooksQuat Kare。
〃In a few minutes he was introduced by an aide…de…camp； accompanied by
two wives； four daughters； and a large retinue。 Like all the Shillooks；
he was very tall and thin。 As his wardrobe looked scanty and old； I at
once gave him a long blue shirt which nearly reached to his ankles；
together with an Indian red scarf to wear as a waistband。 When thus
attired I presented him with a tarboosh （fez）； all of which presents he
received without a smile or the slightest acknowledgment。 When dressed
with the assistance of two or three of the soldiers who had volunteered
to act as valets； he sat down on the carpet； upon which he invited his
family to sit near him。 There was a profound silence。 The king appeared
to have no power of speech； he simply fixed his eyes upon myself and my
wife； then slowly turned them upon Lieutenant Baker and the officers in
attendance。 The crowd was perfectly silent。
〃I was obliged to commence the conversation by asking him ‘whether he
was really Quat Kare； the old king of the Shillooks？ as I had heard his
death reported。'
〃Instead of replying； he conferred with one of his wives； a woman of
about sixty； who appeared to act as prime minister and adviser。 This old
lady immediately took up the discourse； and very deliberately related
the intrigues of the Koordi governor of Fashoda； which had ended in the
ruin of her husband。 It appeared that the Koordi did not wish that peace
should reign throughout the land。 The Shillooks were a powerful tribe；
numbering upwards of a million； therefore it was advisable to sow
dissension amongst them； and thus destroy their unity。 Quat Kare was a
powerful king； who had ruled the country for more than fifty years。 He
was the direct descendant of a long line of kings； therefore he was a
man whose influence was to be dreaded。 The policy of the Koordi
determined that he would overthrow the power of Quat Kare； and after
having vainly laid snares for his capture； the old king fled from the
governor of Fashoda as David fled from Saul and hid in the cave of
Adullam。 The Koordi was clever and cunning in intrigue； thus； he wrote
to Djiaffer Pacha； the governor…general of the Soudan； and declared that
Quat Kare the king of the Shillooks was DEAD； it was therefore necessary
to elect the next heir； Jangy for whom he requested the firman of the
Khedive。 The firman of the Khedive arrived in due course for the
pretender Jangy； who was a distant connexion of Quat Kare； and in no way
entitled to the succession。 This intrigue threw the country into
confusion。 Jangy was proclaimed king by the Koordi； and was dressed in a
scarlet robe with belt and sabre。 The pretender got together a large
band of adherents who were ready for any adventure that might yield them
plunder。 These natives； who knew the paths and the places where the vast
herds of cattle were concealed； acted as guides to the Koordi； and the
faithful adherents of the old king； Quat Kare； were plundered；
oppressed； and enslaved without mercy； until the day that I had
fortunately arrived in the Shillook country； and caught the Koordi in
the very act of kidnapping。
〃I had heard this story a