water。 Instead of this； the vessels were delayed； in the absence of the
Khedive in Europe； until 29th August； thus； by the time they reached the
second cataract； the river had fallen； and it was impossible to drag the
‘steamers through the passage until the next season。 Thus twelve months
were wasted； and I was at once deprived of the invaluable aid of six
steamers。
In addition to this difficulty was the fact of inevitable delay
necessitated by the festivities attending the opening of the Suez Canal。
The Khedive； with his accustomed hospitality； had made immense
preparations for the reception of visitors； and every available vessel
had been prepared for the occasion。
A train of forty…one railway waggons laden with sections of steamers；
machinery； boiler…plates； &c。； &c。； arrived at Cairo； and were embarked
on board eleven hired vessels。 With the greatest difficulty I procured a
steamer of 140…horse power to tow this flotilla to Korosko； from which
spot the desert journey would commence。 I obtained this steamer only by
personal application to the Khedive。
At length I witnessed the start of the entire English party of engineers
and mechanics； together with Mr。 Higginbotham and Dr。 J。 Gedge。 The
steamer Minieh； towed the lone line of eleven vessels against the
powerful stream of the Nile。 One of the tow…ropes snipped at the
commencement of the voyage； which created some confusion； but when
righted they quickly steamed。 out of view。 This mass of heavy material；
including two steamers； and two steel lifeboats of ten tons each； was to
be transported for a distance of about 3；000 miles； 400 of which would
be across the scorching Nubian deserts！
The first division of the heavy baggage had started on 29th August；
1869； with the sloops； to ascend the cataracts direct by river to
Khartoum。 I dared； not trust any portions of the steamers by this
dangerous route； lest by the loss of one vessel with sections I might
destroy all hope of success。
It was a relief to have started the main branches of the expedition；
after the various delays that had already seriously endangered the
chances of the White Nile voyage。 For that river all vessels should
leave Khartoum early in November。
On 5th December； 1869； we brought up the rear； and left Suez on board an
Egyptian sloop of war； the Senaar。 In four days and a half we reached
Souakim； after an escape from wreck on the reef of Shadwan； and a close
acquaintance with a large barque； with which we nearly came into
collision。
The captain of our sloop was a most respectable man； apparently about
eighty years of age。 The first lieutenant appeared to be somewhat his
senior； and neither could see； even with the assistance of a very greasy
and dirty binocular。 The various officers appeared to be vestiges from
Noah's ark in point of antiquity； thus a close shave with a reef and a
near rub with a strange vessel were little incidents that might be
expected in the Red Sea。
We anchored safely in the harbour of Souakim； and landed my twenty…one
horses without accident。
I was met by the governor； my old friend Moomtazz Bey； a highly
intelligent Circassian officer； who had shown me much kindness on my
former expedition。
A week's delay in Souakim was necessary to obtain camels。 In fourteen
days we crossed the desert 275 miles to Berber on the Nile； and found a
steamer and diahbeeah in readiness。 We arrived at Khartoum； a distance
of 200 miles by river； in three days； having accomplished the voyage
from Suez in the short space of thirty…two days； including stoppages。
Khartoum was not changed externally； but I had observed with dismay a
frightful change in the features of the country between Berber and the
capital since my former visit。 The rich soil on the banks of the river；
which had a few years since been highly cultivated； was abandoned。 Now
and then a tuft of neglected date…palms might be seen； but the river's
banks； formerly verdant with heavy crops； had become a wilderness。
Villages once crowded had entirely disappeared； the population was gone。
Irrigation had ceased。 The night； formerly discordant with the creaking
of countless water…wheels； was now silent as death。 There was not a dog
to howl for a lost master。 Industry had vanished； oppression had driven
the inhabitants from the soil。
This terrible desolation was caused by the governor general of the
Soudan； who； although himself an honest man； trusted too much to the
honesty of others； who preyed upon the inhabitants。 As a good and true
Mohammedan； he left his territory to the care of God； and thus； trusting
in Providence； he simply increased the taxes。 In one year he sent to the
Khedive his master 100；000 pounds in hard dollars； wrung from the poor
peasantry； who must have lost an equal amount in the pillage that
accompanies the collection。
The population of the richest province of the Soudan fled from
oppression； and abandoned the country； and the greater portion betook
themselves to the slave trade of the White Nile； where； in their turn；
they might trample upon the rights of others； where； as they had been
plundered； they would be able to plunder； where they could reap the
harvest of another's labour； and where； free from the restrictions of a
government； they might indulge in the exciting and lucrative enterprise
of slave…hunting。 Thousands had forsaken their homes； and commenced a
life of brigandage on the White Nile。
This was the state of the country when I arrived at Khartoum。 The
population of this town； which was about 30；000 during my former visit；
was now reduced to half the number。 The European residents had all
disappeared； with the exception of the Austrian Mission； and Mr。 Hansall
the Austrian Consul； also an extremely tough German tailor； who was
proof against the climate that had carried off his companions。
I had given the necessary orders for vessels and supplies six months
previous； thus； I naturally expected to find a fleet ready for
departure； with the troops and stores waiting for instructions。 To my
surprise； I discovered that my orders had been so far neglected； that
although the troops were at hand； there were no vessels prepared for
transport。 I was coolly informed by the governor…general that 〃it was
impossible to procure the number of vessels required； therefore he had
purchased a house for me； as he expected that I should remain that year
at Khartoum； and start in the following season。〃
There literally was not one vessel ready for the voyage； in spite of the
positive instructions that had been given。 At the same time I found that
the governor…general had just prepared a squadron of eleven vessels；
with several companies of regular troops； for an expedition to the Bahr
Gazal； where it was intended to form a settlement at the copper…mines on
the frontier of Darfur。 This expedition had been placed under the
command of one of the most notorious ruffians and slave…hunters of the
White Nile。 This man； Kutchuk Ali； originally of low extraction； had
made a fortune in his abominable traffic； and had accordingly received
promotion from the governor； thus； at the same time that the Khedive of
Egypt had employed me to suppress the slave trade of the Nile； a
government expedition had been intrusted to the command of one of the
most notorious slave…hunters。
I at once perceived that not only was my expedition unpopular； but that
it would be seriously opposed by all parties。 The troops had been
quartered for some months at Khartoum； during this time the officers had
been intimate with the principal slave…traders of the country。 All were
Mohammedansthus a coalition would be natural against a Christian who
commanded an expedition avowedly to annihilate the slave trade upon
which Khartoum subsisted。
It was a 〃house divided against itself；〃 the Khedive in the north issued
orders that would be neutralized in the distant south by his own
authorities。
As in the United States of America the opinion of the South upon the
question of emancipation was opposed to that of the North；the
opposition in Soudan was openly avowed to the reform believed to have
been suggested to the Khedive by England。
The season was already far advanced。 There is no weapon so fatal as
delay in the hands of Egyptians。 I knew the intentions of the
authorities were to procrastinate until the departure of the expedition
would become impossible。 It was necessary to insist upon the immediate
purchase of vessels which should have been prepared months before。
None of the steamers from Cairo had passed the cataracts。 The fifteen
large sloops upon which I had depended for the transport of camels had
actually given up the attempt and returned to Cairo。 Only the smaller
vessels had mounted the cataracts； and they could not arrive at Khartoum
for some months。
The first division； consisting of all merchandise that I had sent from
Cairo； had arrived in Khartoum under the charge of a Syrian to whom I
had given the command。 I heard that Mr。 Higginbotham； accompanied by Dr。
Gedge and the English party； together with all the Egyptian mechanics；
was on his way across the desert in charge of the steamers and
machinery； carried by some thousand camels。 The third division； brought
up by Mr。 Marcopolo； arrived from Souakim a few days later than
ourselves； thus every arrangement that had been intrusted to my own
officers was well executed。
After some pressure； the governor began to purchase the vessels。 It may
be imagined that a sudden necessity gave a welcome opportunity to
certain officials。 Old vessels were purchased at the price of new； and
the government agent received a bribe from the owners to pass the
vessels on survey。 We were now fitting out under difficulties； and
working at a task that should have been accomplished months before。
Sailcloth was scarce； hempen ropes were rarities in Khartoum； where the
wretched cordage was usually obtained from the leaves of the date…palm。
The highest prices were paid for everything； thus a prearranged delay
caused an immense expense for the expedition。 I studiously avoided any
purchases personally； but simply gave the necessary instructions to be
executed by the governor。 It