concealed in the interior of the country until I should have returned to
England； after which he had no doubt that affairs would continue in
their original position。
It may be imagined that my sudden arrival at Fatiko had disconcerted all
his plans。
In spite of his extreme cunning； he had over…estimated his own power of
intrigue； and he had mismanaged his affairs。
According to the agreement with Agad & Co。； the representative of that
firm； Abou Saood； had contracted to supply the government troops with
all provisions at a given price； including even sheep and butter； as he
declared that he was in possession of these articles in his various
stations。 He was also to assist the government expedition in every
manner； and to supply not only carriers； but even troops； should they be
necessary。
I read this contract to some of his principal men； who fairly laughed
outright at the audacity of Abou Saood in subscribing to such utter
falsehoods。
Not only had he secretly fraternized with the enemy； instead of
assisting the government； but he had cautioned the Baris not to carry
our loads； and he had incited the Fatiko natives to attack us。 The
supply of food was too ridiculous。 Instead of giving to the troops； he
had been obliged to borrow corn from the government magazines at
Gondokoro for his own people； and I had given him 200 cattle to save his
men from famine。
The deceit and treachery of this man were beyond belief。 He now came to
me daily at Fatiko； and swore by the eyes of the Prophet； eternal
fidelity。 He wished to kiss my hand； and to assure me how little his
real character had been understood； and that he felt sure I had been
influenced against him by others； but that in reality I had no servant
so devoted as himself。 He declared that he had only attacked the Shir
and stolen their cows in order to supply the government troops with
cattle according to contract。 （Thus he had the audacity to assert that
the government would become the purchaser of cattle stolen expressly for
their use。）
In spite of these protestations； he could not explain his reason for
having returned the ivory to store； instead of transporting it to
Gondokoro。 He therefore met the difficulty by a flat denial； as usual；
calling upon the Prophet as a witness。
Only a few days of his contract remained； at the expiration of which he
should have withdrawn his establishments from the country； according to
my written orders that had been given many months ago。
He had entirely ignored these orders； as he had never expected my
arrival； therefore he had concealed all such instructions from his
people； in the hope that my terms of service would expire fruitlessly at
Gondokoro； and that； after my departure； he would have little difficulty
in arranging for the future with his friend Raouf Bey； who would most
probably succeed to the command。
I at once issued written orders to the vakeels of his different
stations； that； at the end of the month Mohurram； the contract with Agad
would cease； and that all future action would be illegal。
I gave all employees of Abou Saood due notice； that they must either
quit the country； or become respectable subjects。
I granted them permission to settle at Gondokoro； and to commence farms
on the fertile islands of the Nile free of all taxation。
Or； should they wish to enter the government service as irregular
troops； I offered the same pay as the regulars； with the advantage of an
annual engagement。
I met several headmen whom I had known in my former journey。 These men
found fault with Abou Saood for having left them in the dark respecting
the contract with the government； and they at once declared that they
should be happy to serve as irregulars at the expiration of the
agreement。
There was a great difficulty respecting the ivory； which comprised in
all the stations 3；200 tusks。
The cattle that had been given to the native carriers for the transport
of the ivory to Gondokoro had only partially been returned by the
disappointed Madi。 Many of these people had killed and eaten the beasts；
and had declared that they had died； when they found the necessity of
restoring them。
It was now necessary to move the ivory； together with all the
establishments； to Gondokoro。 This would require at least 6；000 cows。 It
was a complete fix。 There were no cattle in any of Abou Saood's
stations； they had all been consumed； and he now came to me with a
request that I would lend him eighty oxen； as his people had nothing to
eat。
It was clearly impossible to move the ivory。 Thus； in spite of my orders
given to Abou Saood about ten months previous； the opportunity of moving
had been lost； and the time of departure was reduced to sine die。 This
was a hopeless condition of affairs。 There were no cattle in Abou
Saood's possession； and without cows the ivory could not be moved。 At
the same time； it would be impossible for me to permit him to make
razzias upon distant countries； as I had arrived to establish
government； and to afford protection to all tribes that would declare
their allegiance。
I now discovered that the principal vakeel of Abou Saood； named Mohammed
Wat…el…Mek； had only recently started with a large force； by Abou
Saood's orders； to invade the Kooshi country on the west side of the
White Nile； close to its exit from the Albert N'yanza。
This was a tribe that could not possibly have interfered with Abou
Saood； but as the cattle had been exhausted on the east bank of the
river； he had commenced a series of razzias upon the west。 The Koshi
were people with whom friendship should have been established； as they
were on the navigable Nile that would eventually be traversed by the
steamer； when constructed at Ibrahimeyah。 It was thus that all tribes
were rendered hostile by the slave…hunters。
Mohammed Wat…el…Mek （son of the king） was the man who had first
discovered and opened up the countries south of Gondokoro。 This person
was a curious but useful character that I had always wished to employ；
as he had great power with the natives； and he knew every nook and
corner of the country。
I had known him during my former journey； and it appears that he had
always wished to serve me in the present expedition。 The slave…traders
of Khartoum had been determined to prevent Wat…el…Mek from communicating
with me； thus； when I had arrived in Khartoum； this important personage
was actually there； but he was quickly sent by Abou Saood under some
frivolous pretext up the Blue Nile； to keep him out of the way。
On arrival at Gondokoro； he had studiously been retained on the west
bank of the river； and his name had been kept so secret； that I had
never heard it mentioned。 Thus； although both at Khartoum and at
Gondokoro Wat…el…Mek had been within a few hundred paces of me； I had
always supposed that he was in Central Africa。
Abou Saood now declared that Wat…el…Mek had started many days ago from
Fatiko to Koshi； but I subsequently discovered that he had only left
Fatiko on the morning of my arrival； and that he was kept waiting at
Fabbo station； only twenty…two miles west of Fatiko； for several days；
while I had been told by Abou Saood that he had gone to Koshi。
Mohammed Wat…el…Mek was the son of a petty king far away up the Blue
Nile； beyond Fazokle。
He had in early life been a serjeant or choush in the Egyptian army； but
having an adventurous disposition； he had taken to the White Nile； as
the vakeel of Andrea Debono； a Maltese ivory merchant。
Mr。 Debono； being a British subject； retired from the trade when the
slave…hunting arrived at such a pitch that it became impossible for
Europeans to continue business on the White Nile。 （The slave trade
arrived at such a maximum that all European traders in ivory were driven
from the White Nile； including Mr。 Petherick； British Consul。）
Debono had amassed a considerable fortune entirely through： the energy
of Wat…el…Mek； who had pushed into the interior； and had established his
stations with considerable forethought and skill throughout the formerly
unvisited Madi country。
Wat…el…Mek was an exceedingly black man； about the middle height； and
much pitted with the small…pox。 While in the service of Debono； he had
commanded the station of Faloro； where he had most hospitably received
Speke and Grant on their arrival from Zanzibar。 These great travellers
were entertained at Faloro during many weeks； and were afterwards
conducted by their host to Gondokoro； where I had the good fortune to
meet them。
Wat…el…Mek was a very courageous fellow； and although he would not
perhaps have been considered a good character at London police court； he
was a man who would be most useful to an expedition in Central Africa；
where his vicious propensities could be restrained by the discipline of
government。
When Speke parted from him at Gondokoro； he presented him with a
beautiful double…barrelled gun by Blissett； in addition to other
articles。
The worst vice of this man was drinking。 When drunk； he could be induced
to yield to any absurdity。
However； with all his faults； I should have been glad of Wat…el…Mek to
command the irregular force。
In the days when Debono was the proprietor of the Madi station；
Wat…el…Mek had been the sole vakeel； and although he was a tyrant； he
was not disliked by the natives。 Since Debono had sold his stations to
the firm of Agad & Co。； every separate camp was governed by an
independent vakeel； thus there were many tyrants instead of one。
These numerous agents acted in opposition to each other in the purchase
of ivory。 If a native of Fatiko should take a tusk to sell at the
station of Fabbo； he would run the chance of being shot upon his return。
This system of attempted monopoly was carried out throughout the
country； and naturally resulted in anarchy。 Although all the vakeels and
companies belonged to one firm； they acted as rival traders。 Thus； if
slaves ran away from one station and took shelter with the natives of a
village belonging to the people of another vakeel； an attack would be
made upon the village that harboured the runaways； and their women and
children would be immediately captured。
This onslaught on the vil