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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 miles distant from Duffli； below the cataracts； was
taken to pieces and reconstructed on the navigable portion of the Nile
in N。 lat。 3 degrees 34 minutes。
The plan of connecting the equatorial Lake Albert with Khartoum by steam
communication which I had originated； was now completed by the untiring
energy and patience of my successor。 The large steamer of 251 tons was
put together at Khartoum； to add to the river flotilla； thus increasing
the steam power from four vessels； when I had arrived in 1870； to
THIRTEEN； which in 1877 were plying between the capital of the Soudan
and the equator。 The names of Messrs。 Samuda Brothers and Messrs。 Penn
and Co。 upon the three steel steamers and engines which they had
constructed for the expedition are now evidences of the civilizing power
of the naval and mechanical engineers of Great Britain； which has linked
with the great world countries that were hitherto excluded from all
intercourse。
There is still some mystery attached to the Albert N'yanza。 It has been
circumnavigated by Signor Gessi； in the steel life…boats； and
subsequently by Colonel Mason of the American army； who was employed
under Colonel Gordon。 Both of these officers agree that the southern end
of the lake is closed by a mass of 〃ambatch；〃 and that a large river
reported as 400 yards in width flows INTO the Albert N'yanza。 On the
other hand； the well…known African explorer Mr。 Stanley visited the lake
SOUTH of the ambatch limit； to which he was guided by orders of the King
M'tese；。 At that spot it was called the 〃M'woota N'zige；；〃 the same name
which the lake bears throughout Unyoro； therefore there can be no
reasonable doubt that it is the same water。 The description of the
ambatch block and the river flowing into the lake explains the
information that was given to me by native traders； who declared they
had come by canoe from Karagwe；； via the Albert N'yanza； but that
it would be difficult without a guide to discover the passage where the
lake was extremely narrow and the channel tortuous into the next broad
water。
Colonel Gordon has continued the amicable relations established by
myself with the Unyoro chief Rionga； and with M'tese；； King of Uganda。
The commercial aspect of the equatorial provinces is improving； but our
recent experience in South Africa must teach the most sanguine that very
many years must elapse before the negro tribes become amenable to the
customs and improvements of civilized communities。
The expedition of 1869 which His Highness the Khedive entrusted to my
command laid the foundation for reforms which at that time would have
appeared incredible in Egypt。 The slave…trade has been suppressed
through the agency of British influence； persistently supported by the
Khedive； Darfur； the hot…bed of slave…hunting； has been conquered and
annexed； Colonel Gordon has the supreme command of the entire Soudan；
Malcolm Pacha is commissioned to sweep the slave traffic from the Red
Sea。
With this determination to adopt the ideas of Europe； the Khedive has
passed through the trying ordeal of unpopularity in his own country；
but； by a cool disregard for the hostility of the ignorant； he has
adhered to a policy which has gained him the esteem of all civilized
communities。 He has witnessed the bloody struggle between Russia and
Turkey； and though compelled as a vassal state to render military
assistance to the Sultan； he has profited by the lesson； and has
determined by a wise reform to avoid the errors which have resulted in
anarchy and desolation throughout the Ottoman Empire。
In the year 1870 the slave…hunting of Central Africa was condemned。
Since that time Englishmen have been honoured with the special attention
of the Khedive； and have been appointed to posts of the highest
confidence。 European tribunals were established in the place of consular
jurisdiction； British government officials have been invited to reform
the financial administration； and Mr。 Rivers Wilson has been induced to
accept the responsible office of Minister of Finance。 Nubar Pacha has
been recalled to office； and he must regard with pride the general
confidence occasioned throughout Europe by his reappointment。 The
absolute despotism hitherto inseparable from Oriental ideas of
government has been spontaneously abrogated by the Khedive； who has
publicly announced his determination that the future administration
shall be conducted by a council of responsible ministers。
England has become the great shareholder in the Suez Canal； which is the
important link with our Indian Empire。 At the alarm of war we have
already seen the fleet of steam transports hurrying through the isthmus；
and carrying native troops to join the British forces in the
Mediterranean。 We have learnt to know； and the Khedive has wisdom to
understand； that the bonds between Egypt and Great Britain are
inseparable。 At the same time we have been aided by the cordial alliance
of France in promoting the advance of free institutions and the growth
of European influence in the administration of the country。 England and
France； who struggled in hostile rivalry upon the sands and seas of
Egypt； are now joined in the firm determination to uphold the integrity
of the great canal of Suez； and these powers and leaders of civilization
will become the guides and guardians of Egyptian interests。 The reforms
already sanctioned with a new era of justice and economy will insure the
confidence of British capitalists； the resources of Egypt will be
developed by engineering skill that will control the impetuosity of the
Nile and protect the Delta alike from the scarcity of drought； and from
the risk of inundation。 The Nile sources； which from the earliest times
had remained a mystery； have been discovered by the patience and
industry of Englishmen； the Nile will at no distant period be rendered
navigable throughout its course； and Egypt； which for actual existence
depends alone upon that mighty river； will be restored by British
enterprise； supported by the intelligence and good…will of its ruler； to
the position which it held in the pages of Eastern history。
1878。
S。 W。 B。
ISMAILIA。
CHAPTER I。
INTRODUCTORY。
In the present work I shall describe the history of the Khedive of
Egypt's expedition； which I have had the honour to command； as the first
practical step that has been taken to suppress the slave trade of
Central Africa。
I shall not repeat； beyond what may be absolutely necessary； that which
has already been published in my former works on Africa； 〃The Albert
N'yanza〃 and 〃The Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia；〃 but I shall adhere to
the simple path taken by the expedition。 This enterprise was the natural
result of my original explorations； in which I had been an eye…witness
to the horrors of the slave trade； which I determined； if possible； to
suppress。
In my former journey I had traversed countries of extreme fertility in
Central Africa； with a healthy climate favourable for the settlement of
Europeans； at a mean alt