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with a number of cattle； while our troops were engaged with the enemy。〃
I came to the conclusion that it would be unwise to get rid of the
slave…hunters by physical force。 Although I felt that they were entirely
in my power； as I could bombard their stations with Hale's rockets； if
they should refuse to turn out； the natives would； in the event of a
flight； most assuredly possess themselves of the guns and ammunition。
With 146 men； I could not take more than eighty men to act against 600；
as the small force of sixty…six would be the minimum that I could leave
to protect the Fatiko station。 If with eighty men； together with a wild
army of natives； I should attack Fabbo （in which I had heard that Abou
Saood was concentrating his people from the other stations）； every one
of the slave…traders would be massacred。 It would be impossible for
eighty men to fight； and to secure at the same time the 600 stand of
arms that would be in the hands of the rebels。 These； together with the
muskets belonging to the Baris； would all fall into the possession of my
native allies； who would immediately scatter and disappear with their
prize。
Should I attack Fabbo； the result would simply arm the natives with 800
or 900 stand of muskets； together with a large amount of ammunition；
which they might probably use against me at some future time。
I resolved to work diplomatically； and to keep the slave…hunters' party
as a rod above the backs of the natives； until I should discover their
real character。
It had been necessary to establish a corn tax ＇*＇ for the support of the
troops。 Possibly the natives； if entirely relieved from their
oppressors； might refuse to acknowledge government taxation！ At all
events I determined to proceed cautiously。
＇*Footnote： The corn tax was thus established。 Each house was taxed to
pay a small basket of corn every full moon。 All old and infirm people
and also strangers were exempted from taxation。 The headman of each
village was responsible for the tax； and he delivered a bundle of small
pieces of reed； the size of drawing pencils which represented the number
of houses belonging to able…bodied men。 This tax was always paid
cheerfully； in gratitude for the protection afforded by the government。＇
The first step was to summon Abou Saood and to hear his defence from his
own mouth。
I had given the prisoners their choice； of either enlisting in the
government service； or returning to Khartoum。
Of course they ought to have been shot in a batch； but I could not
afford to shoot them。 I had to catch and tame my wild beasts instead
of destroying them。
A considerable number agreed to serve under Wat…el…Mek。
I wrote； on 5th August； a letter addressed to Abou Saood； summoning hum
to appear instantly at Fatiko： at the same time I promised him a free
exit； without which written assurance I might as well have summoned the
〃man in the moon〃。
It was difficult to procure natives who would accompany the new
irregulars with the letter； as news had arrived that Abou Saood's people
were plundering and laying waste the neighbourhood of Fabbo。
At length I arranged that eight of the new levy； together with the
native blacksmith and several others from Fatiko； who were well known in
the Madi country； should go to Fabbo （22 miles） with my letter to Abou
Saood。 The blacksmith would protect the irregulars by explaining their
new position to any natives who might desire to molest them。
I also sent a proclamation to be read publicly in the zareeba； summoning
all subjects of the Khedive to declare their allegiance to the
government。
On the following day （6th August） the blacksmith and his people returned
to Fabbo thoroughly disgusted。 Upon their arrival near the zareeba of
Abou Saood they had cried out to the slave…hunters that they had brought
〃a letter from the Pacha to Abou Saood！〃 The slave…hunters had replied
with a well…known form of abuse in that country； and had immediately
fired a volley into the blacksmith and the eight men of their own
people！
The blacksmith and his natives had lost no time in running back to
Fatiko； and the eight irregulars having thrown themselves on the ground；
had （the blacksmith supposed） at length explained who they were。
The patience and forbearance that I was obliged to assume were far more
trying to my feelings than the march from Masindi。
It has always been an intense satisfaction to me that I had reliable
witnesses to every incident of the expedition； otherwise； I might
perhaps have been suspected of some prejudice against Abou Saood and
certain Egyptian authorities that； unknown to myself； might have
discoloured the true aspect of affairs。 I can only refer to Lieutenant
Baker； R。N。； and that gallant officer； Lieutenant…Colonel Abd…el…Kader；
and many others； including all soldiers and servants who belonged to the
detachment at Fatiko。
These persons subsequently gave their evidence； which they will be ready
at all times to repeat。
On 7th August； at about 5 P。M。； Abou Saood appeared with about forty of
his men。 He was afraid to enter my camp without a second assurance in
writing that he should not be made prisoner。
Of course he swore that he had not given orders to fire at me； and he
declared that his people of Fatiko had only fired because they were
afraid that the natives who had accompanied me were about to attack
them。
I asked him； 〃If that were the case； why had they not communicated with
me； as I was only ninety yards distant？〃 He said his people had not
fired at the government troops； but only at the natives who were upon
the rock。
He could not quite explain in that case 〃how it was that 1；000 natives
perched upon the rock close together； had escaped without a man being
wounded； while not only were seven of the government troops knocked down
by bullets； but the huts and furniture of our camp； including boxes in
the magazine； &c； had been completely riddled with balls。〃 He then began
to lay the blame on Wat…el…Mek； and even had the audacity to declare
that 〃he had nothing to do with slaves； but that he could not restrain
his people from kidnapping。〃 I never heard any human being pour out such
a cataract of lies as this scoundrel。 His plausibility and assurance
were such that I stood aghast； and after he had delivered a long speech；
in which he declared that 〃he was the innocent victim of adverse
circumstances； and that every one was against him；〃 I could merely reply
by dismissing him with the assurance that there was 〃only one really
good and honest man in the world； who invariably spoke the truth； this
man was ABOU SAOOD。 All other men were liars。〃
On the following morning Abou Saood came to take leave。 He pretended to
devote himself to my service； and declared that he should now at once
return to Fabbo and organize the best of his people into an irregular
corps for the government； and he should act with energy as my vakeel；
and assist me in every manner possible。 He begged me not to believe a
word that any one might say EXCEPT HIMSELF； and he swore by the eyes and
head of the Prophet （this was his favourite oath whenever he told the
biggest lie） that there