purchases personally； but simply gave the necessary instructions to be
executed by the governor。 It is only fair to admit that he now worked
hard； and took great interest in the outfit of the flotilla。 This
governor…general； Djiaffer Pacha； had formerly shown me much kindness on
my arrival at Souakim； during my first journey in Africa。 I had
therefore reckoned upon him as a friend； but no personal considerations
could palliate the secret hatred to the object of the expedition。
From morning till night I was occupied in pushing on the work； in this I
was ably assisted by Lieutenant J。 A。 Baker； R。N。； whose professional
experience was of much service。 A new spirit seemed to move in Khartoum；
hundreds of men were at work； a row of masts and yards rose up before
the government house； and in a few weeks we had thirty…three vessels of
fifty or sixty tons each； caulked； rigged； and ready for the voyage of
1；450 miles to Gondokoro。
If the same energy had been shown some months ago； I should have found a
fleet of fifty ships awaiting me。 I had lost a month at Khartoum at a
season when every day was precious。
I reviewed the troops； about 1；400 infantry； and two batteries of
artillery。 The men were in fine condition； but I had no means of
transport for the entire force。 I therefore instructed Djiaffer Pacha to
continue his exertions in preparing vessels； so that on Dr。
Higginbotham's arrival he might follow with the remaining detachment。
I reviewed the irregular cavalry； about 250 horse。 These were certainly
VERY irregular。 Each man was horsed and armed according to his
individual notion of a trooper's requirements。 There were lank；
half…starved horses； round short horses； very small ponies； horses that
were all legs； others that were all heads； horses that had been groomed；
horses that had never gone through that operation。 The saddles and
bridles were only fit for an old curiosity shop。 There were some with
faded strips of gold and silver lace adhering here and there； others
that resembled the horse in skeleton appearance； which had been
strengthened by strips of raw crocodile skin。 The unseemly huge
shovel…stirrups were rusty； the bits were filthy。 Some of the men had
swords and pistols； others had short blunderbusses with brass barrels；
many had guns of various patterns； from the long old…fashioned Arab to
the commonest double…barrelled French gun that was imported。 The
costumes varied in a like manner to the arms and animals。
Having formed in line； they now executed a brilliant charge at a
supposed enemy； and performed many feats of valour in dense clouds of
dust； and having quickly got into inconceivable confusion； they at
length rallied and returned to their original position。
I complimented their officer；and having asked the governor if these
brave troops represented my cavalry force； and being assured of the
fact； I dismissed them； and requested Djiaffer Pacha to inform them that
〃I regretted the want of transport would not permit me the advantage of
their services。 ‘Inshallah！' （Please God！） at some future time；〃 &c。；
&c。
I thus got rid of my cavalry； which I never wished to see again。 I had
twenty…one good horses that I had brought from Cairo； and these together
with the horses belonging to the various officers were as much as we
could convey。
The flotilla was ready for the voyage。 We had engaged sailors with the
greatest difficulty； as a general stampede of boatmen had taken place。
Every one ran from Khartoum to avoid the expedition。
This was a dodge of the slave…traders； who had incited the people to
escape from any connection with such an enterprise。 It was supposed that
without boatmen we should be unable to start。
The police authorities were employed； and by degrees the necessary crews
were secured；all unwilling； and composed of the worst material。
I had taken the precaution of selecting from the two regiments a
body…guard of forty…six men。 Their numbers were equal black and white；
as I considered this arrangement might excite an esprit de corps； and
would in the event of discontent prevent a coalition。
The men having been well chosen were fine examples of physique； and
being armed with the snider rifle and carefully drilled； such a body of
picked troops would form a nucleus for further development； and might
become a dependable support in any emergency。 This corps was commanded
by an excellent officer； my aide…de…camp； Lieut。…Colonel Abd…el…Kader；
but owing to the peculiar light…fingered character of the men； I gave it
the name of 〃The Forty Thieves。〃
Eventually the corps became a model of morality； and was distinguished
for valour and fidelity throughout the expedition。
Six months' rations were on board for all hands； in addition to the
general stores of corn； and cases； bales； &c。； innumerable。
On the 8th February； 1870； the bugles announced the departure。 The
troops hurried on board their respective transports according to the
numbers painted on their sides and sails。 The official parting was
accomplished。 I had had to embrace the governor； then a black pacha； a
rara avis in terris； and a whole host of beys； concluding the affecting
ceremony with a very fat colonel whom my arms could not properly
encircle。
A couple of battalions lined the shore； the guns fired the usual salute
as we started on our voyage； the flotilla； composed of two steamers；
respectively of thirty…two and twenty…four horsepower； and thirty…one
sailing vessels； with a military force of about 800 men； got away in
tolerable order。 The powerful current of the Blue Nile quickly swept us
past Khartoum； and having rounded the point； we steamed up the grand
White Nile。 The wind blew very strong from the north； thus the entire
fleet kept pace with the steamers； one of which was towing my diahbeeah；
and the other that of the colonel； Raouf Bey。 Thank God we were off；
thus all intrigues were left behind； and the future would be under my
own command。
On reference to my journal； I find the following entry upon 8th
February； 1870：
〃Mr。 Higginbotham； who has safely arrived at Berber with the steel
steamers in sections for the Albert N'yanza； will； I trust； be provided
with vessels at Khartoum； according to my orders； so as to follow me to
Gondokoro with supplies； and about 350 troops with four guns。
〃My original programmeagreed to by his Highness the Khedive； who
ordered the execution of my orders by the authoritiesarranged that
six steamers； fifteen sloops； and fifteen diahbeeahs； should leave Cairo
on 10th June； to ascend the cataracts to Khartoum； at which place
Djiaffer Pacha was to prepare three steamers and twenty…five vessels to
convey 1；650 troops； together with transport animals and supplies。
〃The usual Egyptian delays have entirely thwarted my plans。 No vessels
have arrived from Cairo； as they only started on 29th August。 Thus；
rather than turn back； I start with a mutilated expedition； without a
SINGLE TRANSPORT ANIMAL。〃
Having minutely described the White Nile in a former work； 〃The Albert
N'yanza；〃 I shall not repeat the description。 In 103 hours and ten
minutes' steaming we reached Fashoda； the government station in the
Shillook country； N。 lat。 9 degrees 52 minutes； 618 miles by river
from Khartoum。
This town had been fortified by a wall and flanking towers since I had
last visited the White Nile； and it was garrisoned by a regiment of
Egyptian soldiers。 Ali Bey； the governor； was a remarkably handsome old
man； a Kurd。 He assured me that the Shillook country was in excellent
order； and that according to the instructions received from the Khedive
he had exerted himself against the slave trade； so that it was
impossible for vessels to pass the station。
Fashoda was well situated for this purpose； as it completely dominated
the river； but I much doubted my friend's veracity。
Having taken on board a month's rations for all hands； we started； and；
with a strong breeze in our favour； we reached the Sobat junction on
16th February； at 12。30 p。m。
There we took in fresh water； as that of the Sobat is superior to the
White Nile。 At this season the river was about eight feet below the
level of the bank。 The water of the Sobat is yellowish； and it colours
that of the White Nile for a great distance。 By dead reckoning I made
the Sobat junction 684 miles by river from Khartoum。
When I saw the Sobat； in the first week of January 1863； it was
bank…full。 The current is very powerful； and when I sounded in various
places during my former voyage； I found a depth of twenty…six to
twenty…eight feet。 The volume of water brought to the Nile by this river
is immense； and the power of the stream is so superior to that of the
White Nile； that as it arrives at right angles； the waters of the Nile
are banked up。 The yellow water of the Sobat forms a distinct line as it
cuts through the clear water of the main river； and the floating rafts
of vegetation brought down by the White Nile； instead of continuing
their voyage； are headed back； and remain helplessly in the backwater。
The sources of the Sobat are still a mystery； but there can be no doubt
that the principal volume must be water of mountain origin； as it is
coloured by earthy matter； and is quite unlike the marsh water of the
White Nile。 The expeditions of the slave…hunters have ascended the
river as far as it is navigable。 At that point seven different streams
converge into one channel； which forms the great river Sobat。 It is my
opinion that some of these streams are torrents from the Galla country；
while others are the continuation of those southern rivers which have
lately been crossed by the slave…hunters between the second and third
degrees of N。 latitude。
The White Nile is a grand river between the Sobat junction and Khartoum；
and after passing to the south of the great affluent the difference in
the character is quickly perceived。 We now enter upon the region of
immense flats and boundless marshes； through which the river winds in a
labyrinth…like course for about 750 miles to Gondokoro。
Having left the Sobat； we arrived at the junction of the Bahr Giraffe；
thirty…eight miles distant； at 11 a。m。 on 17th February。 We turn