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looked very suspicious； and I at once sent a boat to order her to halt。
When she was brought alongside； I sent my trusty aide…de…camp； Colonel
Abd…el…Kader； on board to make the necessary inquiries。 She was quite
innocent。 The captain and the vakeel （agent and commander of station）
were amazed at my thinking it necessary to search their vessel。 She had
a quantity of corn on board； stowed in bulk。 There was not a person
beside the crew and a few soldiers from Kutchuk Ali's station。
The vakeel was the same whom I had seen at the station at the Bahr
Giraffe； to whom I had given advice that he should not attempt to send
slaves down the river again。 All was in order。 The vessel belonged to
Kutchuk Ali； who now commanded the government expedition sent by
Djiaffer Pacha to the Bahr Gazal。 She was laden with ivory beneath the
corn； which was for the supply of the crew and soldiers。
Colonel Abd…el…Kader was an excellent officer； he was one of the
exceptions who took a great interest in the expedition； and he always
served me faithfully。 He was a fine powerful man； upwards of six feet
high； and not only active； but extremely determined。 He was generally
called 〃the Englishman〃 by his brother officers； as a bitter compliment
reflecting on his debased taste for Christian society。 This officer was
not the man to neglect a search because the agent of Kutchuk Ali
protested his innocence； and exhibited the apparently naked character of
his vessel。 She appeared suspiciously full of corn for a boat homeward
bound。 There was an awkward smell about the closely…boarded forecastle
which resembled that of unwashed negroes。 Abd…el…Kader drew a steel
ramrod from a soldier's rifle； and probed sharply through the corn。
A smothered cry from beneath； and a wriggling among the corn； was
succeeded by a woolly head； as the strong Abd…el…Kader； having thrust
his long arm into the grain； dragged forth by the wrist a negro woman。
The corn was at once removed； the planks which boarded up the forecastle
and the stern were broken down； and there was a mass of humanity
exposed； boys； girls； and women； closely packed like herrings in a
barrel； who under the fear of threats had remained perfectly silent
until thus discovered。 The sail attached to the mainyard of the vessel
appeared full and heavy in the lower part； this was examined； and upon
unpacking； it yielded a young woman who had thus been sewn up to avoid
discovery。
The case was immediately reported to me。 I at once ordered the vessel
to be unloaded。 We discovered one hundred and fifty slaves stowed away
in a most inconceivably small area。 The stench was horrible when they
began to move。 Many were in irons； these were quickly released by the
blacksmiths； to the astonishment of the captives； who did not appear to
understand the proceeding。
I ordered the vakeel； and the reis or captain of the vessel； to be put
in irons。 The slaves began to comprehend that their captors were now
captives。 They now began to speak； and many declared that the greater
portion of the men of their villages had been killed by the
slave…hunters。
Having weighed the ivory and counted the tusks； I had the vessel
reloaded； and having placed an officer with a guard on board； I sent her
to Khartoum to be confiscated as a slaver。
I ordered the slaves to wash； and issued clothes from the magazine for
the naked women。
On the following day I inspected the captives； and I explained to them
their exact position。 They were free people； and if their homes were at
a reasonable distance they should be returned。 If not they must make
themselves generally useful； in return for which they would be fed and
clothed。
If any of the women wished to marry； there were many fine young men in
the regiments who would make capital husbands。 I gave each person a
paper of freedom； signed by myself。 This was contained in a hollow reed
and suspended round their necks。 Their names； approximate age； sex； and
country were registered in a book corresponding with the numbers on
their papers。
These arrangements occupied the whole morning。 In the afternoon I again
inspected them。 Having asked the officer whether any of the negresses
would wish to be married； he replied that all the women wished to marry；
and that they had already selected their husbands！
This was wholesale matrimony； that required a church as large as
Westminster Abbey； and a whole company of clergy！
Fortunately； matters are briefly arrranged in Africa。 I saw the loving
couples standing hand in hand。 Some of the girls were pretty； and my
black troops had shown good taste in their selection。 Unfortunately；
however； for the Egyptian regiment； the black ladies had a strong
antipathy to brown men； and the suitors were all refused。 This was a
very awkward affair。 The ladies having received their freedom； at once
asserted 〃woman's rights。〃
I was obliged to limit the matrimonial engagements； and those who were
for a time condemned to single blessedness were placed in charge of
certain officers to perform the cooking for the troops and other
domestic work。 I divided the boys into classes； some I gave to the
English workmen to be instructed in carpenter's and blacksmith's work；
others were apprenticed to tailors； shoemakers； &c。； in the regiment；
while the best looking were selected as domestic servants。 A nice little
girl； of about three years old； without parents； was taken care of by my
wife。
When slaves are liberated in large numbers there is always a difficulty
in providing for them。 We feel this dilemma when our cruisers capture
Arab dhows on the east coast of Africa； and our government becomes
responsible for an influx of foundlings。 It is generally quite
impossible to return them to their own homes； therefore all that can be
done is to instruct them in some useful work by which they can earn
their livelihood。 If the boys have their choice； they invariably desire
a military life； and I believe it is the best school for any young
savage； as he is at once placed under strict discipline； which teaches
him habits of order and obedience。 The girls； like those of other
countries； prefer marriage to regular domestic work； nevertheless； if
kindly treated； with a due amount of authority； they make fair servants
for any rough employment。
When female children are about five years old they are most esteemed by
the slave…dealers； as they can be more easily taught； and they grow up
with an attachment to their possessors； and in fact become members of
the family。
Little Mostoora； the child taken by my wife； was an exceedingly clever
specimen of her race； and although she was certainly not more than three
years old； she was quicker than most children of double her age。 With an
ugly little face； she bad a beautifully shaped figure； and possessed a
power of muscle that I have never seen in a white child of that age。 Her
lot had fallen in pleasant quarters； she was soon dressed in convenient
clothes and became the pet of the family。
On June 17； 1 sent the No。 9 steamer to Khartoum with the post； together
with three sons of Quat Kare； who were to represent their father at the
divan of Djia