按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the ignorance of the officers and crew。
We reached Cairo on 24th August at 4。30 P。M。 On 25th I had the honour
of presenting myself to his Highness the Khedive； to explain the large
chart of his new territory that I had annexed in Central Africa。
I received from his Highness the Imperial order of the Osmanie； 2nd
class； as a token of his approbation of my services。 I had already had
the honour to accept from his hands the order of the Medjidie； 2nd
class； before I had started upon my mission。 His Highness the Khedive
now conferred upon Lieutenant Baker the order of the Medjidie； 3rd
class。
I handed the botanical collection to his Highness the Khedive； which had
been carefully prepared throughout the journey by Lady Baker。
Unfortunately more than 300 specimens of plants had been destroyed by
the conflagration at Masindi。 The botanical specimens； together with
samples of the fibres； skins； and the salt of the new territory； were
ordered to be forwarded to the Vienna Exhibition。
The Khedive expressed his determination to judge Abou Saood by a special
tribunal； composed of Cherif Pacha； Nubar Pacha； and Ismail Pacha； the
Minister of Finance。 I handed seventeen documents to Nubar Pacha； with
evidence sworn to upon the Koran before witnesses； and properly sealed
by Wat…el…Mek； Suleiman； the sheiks of the country； Major Abdullah； and
others； against Abou Saood； charging him with various crimes； including
treason in having given the orders that his Fatiko company should fire
at me and the government troops。 I took a receipt for these important
documents。
I had also brought up several of the 〃Forty Thieves〃 as viva…voce
witnesses； in addition to Lieutenant Baker； R。N。； Lieutenant…Colonel
Abd…el…Kader； Captain Mohammed Deii； and two servants； Suleiman and
Mohammed Haroon。 Thus all the evidence was in official order：
I 26th Jumay Owal； 1289； report of Major Abdullah （commandant of
Fatiko）： threatening conduct of Abou Saood's vakeels during my absence。
2。 28th Jumay Owal； 1289； the declaration of the regimental officers of
Fort Fatiko。
3。 6th October； 1872； 1st Shaban； 1289； the declaration of the vakeels
of Abou Saood （Wat…el…Mek and Suleiman）； that they had acted according
to orders received from Abou Saood。
4。 26th Jumay Owal； 1289； Major Abdullah's declaration against Abou
Saood and his company at Fatiko。
5。 12th Jumay Ocher； 1289； declaration of the chiefs of the country；
complaining of the kidnapping of women and children； massacres； &c。；
committed by Abou Saood and his companies。
6。 Declaration of Abou Saood's men； containing declarations of Mohammed；
Wat…el…Mek； and Besheer Achmet； that Abou Saood gave the order to fire
at the Pacha and the government troops。 Two large papers。
7。 29th Jumay Owal； 1289； letter from Abou Saood from Fabbo。
8。 29th Rebi Owal； 1289； Major Abdullah's reasons for not detaining
Suleiman； and for not arresting Abou Saood。
9。 2nd Jumay Acher； 1289； letter from Abou Saood； Fatiko。
10。 29th Jumay Owal； 1289； order for confiscation of Fatiko after the
attack made upon the troops。
11。 Letter from officers of Fabbo。
12。 4th Regeb； 1289； report of Abou Saood's escape with government guns；
&c。
13。 22nd Jumay Acher； 1289； letter from vakeel Suleiman； Fabbo。
14。 3rd November； 1872； proces…verbal； declaration of Suleiman and Abou
Saood's people。
15。 1st Shaban； 6th October； 1873； copy of orders to Wat…el…Mek。
16。 Mohammed the dragoman's declaration。
17。 Wat…el…Mek's declaration that he and his people were always paid by
Abou Saood in slaves； and that the conduct of the stations was according
to his orders。 Also that he had obeyed Abou Saood's orders in attacking
me at Fatiko。
His Highness the Khedive had the kindness to confer promotion upon my
faithful officer； Lieutenant…Colonel Abd…el…Kader； to the rank of
kaimakam； and Captain Mohammed Deii to the rank of saccolassi。 He also
granted a reward to the soldiers who had fought the battle of Masindi；
and marched through eight days of ambuscades to Foweera。
A gratuity of a month's pay was given to every English engineer and
mechanic； and they started for England。
After a delay of about six weeks in Egypt； his Highness afforded us a
gracious and hospitable occasion of taking leave of himself and the
young princes； to all of whom I am indebted for much courtesy and
kindness。
CHAPTER XXVII。
CONCLUSION。
The foregoing chapters will have afforded a sufficiently distinct view
of the expedition to enable the public to form their own opinion of the
position of the slave trade。
It will have been seen that I had acted directly against that infamous
traffic from the commencement of the work； according to the explicit
instructions of my firman； at the same time I had made due allowances
for the ambiguous position of the traders upon the White Nile； who were
actual tenants of the government。 Thus I never visited the interior of
their camps； nor had I disturbed their stations in any way； but I had
passed them as without the pale of my jurisdiction； at the same time I
gave the vakeels due warning； and entirely prevented them from making
use of the river as the highway of the slave trade。
In 1870； while I was camped at Tewfikeeyah； I entirely suppressed the
river traffic； but the fact of my leaving over…taken three vessels with
700 slaves belonging to Abou Saood at the close of the expedition； on my
return towards Khartoum； must be a damning proof of complicity on the
part of certain government officials。
Thus it is plain that； while I was endeavouring to do my duty； others
who should have been supporting me were actually supporting the
slave…hunters。 No people could have had the absurd audacity to attempt
the passage of the river in front of Fashodaa government station；
garrisoned by two regiments； and provided with two steamersunless they
were in league with the officials。
My personal interference has rendered the slave trade of the White Nile
impossible so long as the government is determined that it shall be
impossible。 At the close of the expedition； the higher officials had
been changed； and the country appeared to be in good hands。 The governor
of Fashoda； Jusef Effendi； had captured the slave vessels of Abou Saood
according to my instructions。 Ismail Ayoub Pacha had been appointed
governor of Khartoum。 Hussein Khalifah； the Arab desert sheik； was
governor of Berber； and various important changes had been made among
the higher authorities throughout the Soudan； which proved that the
Khedive was determined upon reform。
One grand and sweeping reform was absolutely necessary to extinguish the
slave trade of Central Africa； and this I lead the honour to suggest：
〃That all the present existing traders or tenants of the White Nile
should be expelled from the country； precisely as I had expelled them
from the territory under my command。〃 The government would then assume
the monopoly of the ivory trade of the White Nile； and the natives would
in a few years be restored to confidence。
So long as the so…called traders of Khartoum should be permitted to
establish themselves as independent piratical societies