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stables。 He incurred the wrath of general discontent； his own officials
accused him of deserting the Mahommedan cause for the sake of European
Kudos； and while he sacrificed his popularity in Egypt； his policy was
misconstrued by the powers he had sought to gratify。 He was accused of
civilizing 〃through the medium of fire and sword〃 by the same English
journals which are now extolling the prowess of the British arms in
Caffraria and the newly…annexed Transvaal！
In this equivocal position it would have been natural either to have
abandoned the enterprise at the termination of my own engagement； or to
have placed a Mahommedan officer in charge of the new provinces。 Instead
of this； His Highness adhered most strictly to his original
determination； and to prove his sincerity he entrusted the command to an
English officer of high reputation； not only for military capacity； but
for a peculiar attribute of self…sacrifice and devotion。 Colonel C。 E。
Gordon； R。E。； C。B。； was appointed Governor…General of the Soudan and
equatorial districts； with supreme power。
This appointment extinguished the delusions which had been nourished by
the Soudan authorities； 〃that at the expiration of Baker Pacha's rule
the good old times of slavery and lawlessness would return。〃 There was
no longer any hope； the slave…trade was suppressed； and the foundation
was laid for the introduction of European ideas and civilization。 It
will now be interesting to trace an outline of the advance of Egypt
during the last five years。
The main difficulty in my original enterprise was the obstruction of the
White Nile by the accumulation of matted vegetation； which impeded
navigation； and actually closed the river。 Upon arrival at Gondokoro；
after the tedious process of cutting through 50 miles of swamp and
vegetable matter； via the Bahr Giraffe； I had requested the
Khedive to issue an order that the Governor of Khartoum should
immediately commence the great work of re…opening the White Nile。
His Highness without delay forwarded the necessary instructions； and in
two years the work was completed by Ismail Ayoob Pacha； with the loss of
several vessels which had been overwhelmed by the sudden bursting of
vast masses of floating swamps and entangled reeds。 It had been
necessary to commence operations below stream； to enable the blocks of
vegetation to escape when detached by cutting from the main body。
The White Nile was restored to navigation a few months after my return
to England； and was clear for large vessels by the time that Colonel
Gordon arrived in Khartoum。
I had originally sent up six steamers from Cairo to ply between Khartoum
and Gondokoro； these had been simply employed as far as Fashoda station；
but as the Nile was now open； they at once established a rapid and
regular communication with the equatorial provinces。 The terrible
difficulty had vanished； and Gondokoro was linked with the outer world
from which it had been excluded。 The appliances which had been prepared
with much care could now be utilized。 With the river open； supplies and
reinforcements could be immediately forwarded； and the ivory which had
accumulated in the government stations could be brought to market。 In
addition to the physical advantages of restored communication； a great
moral change was effected throughout the officers and troops； they felt
no longer banished from the world； but accepted their position as
garrisons in Egyptian territory。
At Gondokoro I had constructed a steel steamer of 108 tons； and I had
left ready packed for land transport a steamer of the same metal 38
tons； in addition to two steel life…boats of each 10 tons； for
conveyance to the Albert N'yanza。 At Khartoum I had left in sections a
steamer of 251 tons。 All these vessels had been brought from England and
conveyed with incredible trouble upon camels across the deserts to
Khartoum。
Before my arrival in the Soudan the entire river force of steamers upon
the Blue and White Niles was represented by four very inferior vessels。
I had added six from Cairo； and built a seventh； thus I left a force of
eleven steamers working on the river； exclusive of two in sections。
The stations garrisoned by regular troops were
1。 Gondokoro； N。 lat。 4 degrees 54 minutes。
2。 Fatiko； N。 lat。 3 degrees 2 minutes。
3。 Foweera； N。 lat。 2 degrees 6 minutes。
4。 Fabbo； N。 lat。 3 degrees 8 minutes。
By the newly…raised irregulars
5。 Farragenia。
6。 Faloro。
In this position of affairs Colonel Gordon succeeded to the command in
the spring of 1874。 Although the Bari tribe； which had been subdued； was
nominally at peace； it was hardly safe to travel through the country
without an armed escort。
Colonel Gordon's first effort was in favour of conciliation； with the
hope of inspiring a friendly spirit among the chiefs。 At the same time
he resolved to offer a chance for reform to the slave…hunter Abou Saood；
who he considered might amend his ways； and from his knowledge of the
people become a useful officer to the government。 Unfortunately； the
leopard could not change his spots； and the man； to whom every
opportunity had been given； was dismissed and punished。 It was
impossible to have discovered an officer more thoroughly qualified for
the command than Colonel Gordon。 By profession a military engineer； he
combined the knowledge especially required for carrying on the
enterprise。 He had extended the hand of friendship to the natives； but
when rejected with contempt and opposed by hostility； he was prompt in
chastisement。 The wet seasons and attendant high flood of two years were
employed in dragging the 108…ton steel steamer up the various cataracts
which intervened between Gondokoro and Duflli （N。 lat。 3 degrees 34
minutes）。 This portion of the river formed a series of steps caused by a
succession of cataracts at intervals of about 25 miles； between the
obstacles the stream was navigable。 The natives of Moogi treacherously
attacked and killed the whole of a detachment； including the French
officer in command； during the absence of Colonel Gordon； who was
engaged in the operation of towing the steamer through the rapids only a
few miles distant。 This open hostility necessitated the subjugation of
the tribe； and the establishment of a line of military posts along the
course of the river。
After much trouble； at the expiration of two years the steamer was
dragged to an utterly impassable series of cataracts south of Lobore。
This line of obstruction extended for the short distance of about twelve
miles； beyond which the river was navigable into the Albert N'yanza。
Several vessels had been towed up together with the steamer from
Gondokoro； and the 38…ton steel steamer and two life…boats which had
been thus conveyed； were now carried in sections to the spot above the
last cataracts at Duffli； where they could be permanently reconstructed。
Signor Gessi was entrusted with the command of the two life…boats upon
their completion； and had the honour of first entering the Albert
N'yanza from the north by the river Nile。
The 38…ton steamer was put together； and the 108…ton （Khedive）； which
had been left a few