portion of the troops had gone to Belinian for an excursion of some
days； they had accordingly beaten their big drums and gathered together
from all quarters to attack the camp； but discretion overcame their
valour when they found a large force still at head…quarters。
On June 9； eight vessels of Agad's hove in sight； and with a fair breeze
they arrived opposite the island at 2。30 p。m。
Abou Saood was in one of these vessels。
June 10； Abou Saood presented himself to me this morning。 His vessels；
being without cargoes； benefited much by our work in the sudd。 He found
all our cuttings open； therefore he had no difficulty until he arrived
at the dam； through which his people cut a passage。 The great rush of
water scoured a deep channel； and his squadron of light vessels came on
without difficulty。 I ordered Abou Saood's people to camp on the west
bank of the river； as I did not wish them to be in constant
communication with my troops； who would quickly become contaminated by
their morals。
The news brought by Abou Saood from Khartoum informed me of the death of
Agad； therefore the representation of the firm of Agad & Co。 had now
devolved upon Abou Saood； his son…in…law。
I now heard that the people of Abou Saood； who numbered about 500 men；
had brought with them a large herd of cattle which they had driven along
the west bank of the river； thus in direct defiance of the government
authority； he had made a razzia upon some tribe during his voyage； and
he had not scrupled to present himself to me with the herd of stolen
cattle staring me in the face on the other side of the water。
On my way up from the Bahr Giraffe I had left a Turkish major； Achmet
Rafik Effendi； with a corporal and five men； in the Shir tribe； about
forty miles from Gondokoro； with a friendly sheik named Niambore。 This
sheik was the tallest and most powerful man that I ever saw in Africa；
and he was a trustworthy and good fellow。 He had promised to cultivate a
farm for the government； therefore I had given him ten bushels of dhurra
for seed； and I had left with him at his request the officer and
soldiers； to represent the government and to superintend the
cultivation。
I now discovered that Abou Saood had attacked the natives without any
provocation； and had carried off the cattle from the country adjoining
Niambore's district。
The natives would naturally imagine that my officer and six men were
spies who had directed Abou Saood to their cattle； and there would be a
great chance of a conflict between Niambore； their protector； and his
neighbours who had been robbed。
I observed with the telescope that the people of Abou Saood who arrived
with the herd of cattle were accompanied by a great number of natives；
and the Baris of Gondokoro； who were at open war with us； flocked to
welcome the new comers as old friends who had been long absent。 The
brigands had as usual arrived with a large herd of cattle； which in
Africa is always the best introduction； thus the robber tribe of
Allorron was delighted at the return of those who had always led them to
plunder； and had enriched them with the spoil of cows and slaves。 I find
the following entry in my journal； dated
〃June 12； 1871。The natives who are at war with us have been gathering
in large numbers to the spot on the west bank occupied by Abou Saood's
people。 The latter are actually holding friendly intercourse with them；
and the Baris are quite at home assisting these rascals in erecting
their camp； although they positively refused to work for the government
upon our first arrival。 This is the treasonable conduct of Abou Saood；
who knows perfectly well that we are at open war with the Baris。
〃His large herd of about 1；400 fat cattle were driven along in triumph；
followed by the admiring population of thieving niggers； who hail his
arrival as the harbinger of fat times； Gondokoro being the general depot
for all stolen cattle； slaves。 &c。； and the starting point for every
piratical expedition。
〃In the afternoon I started in a dingy； accompanied by Colonel
Abd…el…Kader； Lieutenant Baker； Monsoor； and four soldiers； to visit the
traders' camp on the west side of the river。
〃Seeing me approach； a great number of Baris left the traders； and
taking to a precipitate flight they disappeared in the high reeds。 The
traders' people received me without the slightest mark of respect； and
one insolent fellow swaggered up and stared me in the face with a pipe
in his mouth as a studied insult。
〃I went to the cattle pens and immediately placed my four soldiers as
sentries over the herd； which I confiscated； as a warning to these
ruffianly slave…hunters。
〃It would be a disgrace to tolerate these thieves； as Gondokoro is
rendered a perfect hell； and the natives will naturally abhor any lawful
government so long as they can consort and share spoils with such
brigands as these so…called traders of Khartoum。〃
Upon my return home I wrote an official letter to Abou Saood of which
the following is a copy ：
〃ISMAILIA； or GONDOKORO； June 12； 1871。
〃To Abou Saood； vakeel of the firm of Agad & Co。
〃Sir；
〃You arrived here on the 10th inst。 with a large number
of cattle stolen by you and your people。
〃You； knowing that the Baris were at war with the government；
have nevertheless been in daily and friendly communication
with them。
〃The Baris of this country are rendered hostile to all honest
government by the conduct of your people； who； by stealing
slaves and cattle from the interior； and delivering them here；
have utterly destroyed all hope of improvement in a people
naturally savage； but now rendered by your acts thieves of the
worst description。
〃It is impossible that I can permit the continuance of such acts。
〃I therefore give you due notice that at the expiration of
your contract you will withdraw all your people from the district
under my command。 At the same time I declare the forfeiture
to the government of the cattle you have forcibly captured under
the eyes of my authority。
〃SAMUEL W。 BAKER。〃
The only error that I can acknowledge throughout the expedition was my
present leniency。 I should at once have placed Abou Saood in irons； and
have sent him to Khartoum； instead of leaving him at large to carry on
his intrigues against the government。
I intended on the first opportunity to send notice to the Shir tribe of
the safety of their cattle； but an incident shortly occurred that
altered my determination。 （These cattle were kept in a separate pen or
zareeba； and were guarded when at pasturage by special soldiers for some
weeks； in order that they should be returned to the Shir tribe upon the
first opportunity。）
At the same time that Abou Saood was in disgrace； he was a bosom friend
of the colonel； Raouf Bey； who commanded my troops。 They dined together
constantly in the house of the latter officer； and their friendship had
originally commenced in Khartoum during the long interval that the
regiments were awaiting my arrival from Cairo。 It was during that
interval that the officers of the expedition had fraternized with the
White Nile traders who resided at Khartoum。
The result of such intimacy might be imagined。
The object of the expedition had always been distasteful to both
officers and men。 The traders had already seen by the； examples made at
Tewfikeeyah that I should actually destroy their cherished slave…trade。
It was therefore natural that Abou Saood should exert himself to ruin
the expedition。 Having friend in Raouf Bey； he was in a position to
create division of opinion。 He constantly associated with this officer；
in order that it should be generally known that he was supported by an
influential person in the government service。 The scandal of the camp
quickly assumed that the opinions concerning the slave…traders between
myself and Raouf Bey were at variance。
The officers of the expedition had； contrary to my express orders；
purchased 126 slaves from the stations of the traders during the White
Nile voyage！ I had only learnt this on arrival at Gondokoro； thus when
corn was so scarce that the rations were reduced； while those of meat
were increased； we had an addition of 126 mouths！
The policy of the slave…traders was identical with the feelings of the
officers and men； all of whom wished to abandon the expedition and
return to Khartoum。 Abou Saood worked molelike in his intrigues。 He
fraternized secretly with Allorron and his Baris。 Many of his men
purchased tobacco from the natives in exchange for ammunition。 The
natives from Belinian were in daily communication with Abou Saood's
camp； and their spies obtained information of our proceedings； and
carried the news throughout the country that 〃they would be supported by
Abou Saood against my authority。〃
I learnt everything that occurred through trustworthy agents。 It quickly
became known that Raouf Bey was desirous to terminate the expedition。
The contagion spread rapidly； and the men worked languidly and without
the slightest interest： they had made up their minds that the expedition
was a failure； and that a scarcity of corn would be their excuse for a
return to Khartoum。 Abou Saood fanned the flame among the officers； and
discontent became general。
In the mean time the Baris were very active in annoying the camp at
night。 Although these natives could not stand against the troops in the
open； they harassed them by necessitating a perpetual vigilance both by
night and day。 It was necessary to have strong patrols in two parties at
all hours； and I regret to say the Egyptian officers and men did not
appear to enjoy a state of war where activity and good discipline were
absolutely necessary。 The Soudani officers and men； although ignorant；
were far superior to the Egyptians in activity and courage。
Unfortunately the camp was sickly。 The men now suffered from the fatigue
of the long voyage through slush and marsh。 Many had fever and
dysentery。 Ulcerated legs were prevalent； and this disease appeared to
be contagious。 Many men died from these malignant ulcers； which in some
cases entirely destroyed the foot。 The women did not suffer from this
complaint。 It originated from a poisonous g