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Central Africa； with a healthy climate favourable for the settlement of
Europeans； at a mean altitude of 4；000 feet above the sea level。 This
large and almost boundless extent of country was well peopled by a race
who only required the protection of a strong but paternal government to
become of considerable importance； and to eventually develop the great
resources of the soil。
I found lands varying in natural capabilities according to their
position and altitudeswhere sugar； cotton； coffee； rice； spices； and
all tropical produce might be successfully cultivated； but those lands
were without any civilized form of government； and 〃every man did what
seemed right in his own eyes。〃
In this dislocated state of society； the slave trade prospered to the
detriment of all improvement。 Rich and well…populated countries were
rendered desolate； the women and children were carried into captivity；
villages were burnt； and crops were destroyed or pillaged； the
population was driven out； a terrestrial paradise was converted into an
infernal region； the natives who were originally friendly were rendered
hostile to all strangers； and the general result of the slave trade
could only be expressed in one word〃ruin。〃
The slave hunters and traders who had caused this desolation were for
the most part Arabs； subjects of the Egyptian government。
These people had deserted their agricultural occupations in the Soudan
and had formed companies of brigands in the pay of various merchants of
Khartoum。 The largest trader had about 2；500 Arabs in his pay； employed
as pirates or brigands； in Central Africa。 These men were organized
after a rude military fashion； and armed with muskets； they were divided
into companies； and were officered in many cases by soldiers who had
deserted from their regiments in Egypt or the Soudan。
It is supposed that about 15；000 of the Khedive's subjects who should
have been industriously working and paying their taxes in Egypt were
engaged in the so…called ivory trade and slave…hunting of the White
Nile。
Each trader occupied a special district； where； by a division of his
forces in a chain of stations； each of which represented about 300 men；
he could exercise a right of possession over a certain amount of assumed
territory。
In this manner enormous tracts of country were occupied by the armed
bands from Khartoum； who could make alliances with the native tribes to
attack and destroy their neighbours； and to carry off their women and
children； together with vast herds of sheep and cattle。
I have already fully described this system in 〃The Albert N'yanza；〃
therefore it will be unnecessary to enter into minute details in the
present work。 It will be sufficient； to convey an idea of the extended
scale of the slave…hunting operations； to explain that an individual
trader named Agad assumed the right over nearly NINETY THOUSAND SQUARE
MILES of territory。 Thus his companies of brigands could pillage at
discretion； massacre； take； burn； or destroy throughout this enormous
area； or even beyond this broad limit； if they had the power。
It is impossible to know the actual number of slaves taken from Central
Africa annually； but I should imagine that at least fifty thousand are
positively either captured and held in the various zareebas （or camps）
or are sent via the White Nile and the various routes overland by Darfur
and Kordofan。 The loss of life attendant upon the capture and subsequent
treatment of the slaves is frightful。 The result of this forced
emigration； combined with the insecurity of life and property； is the
withdrawal of the population from the infested districts。 The natives
have the option of submission to every insult； to the violation of their
women and the pillage of their crops； or they must either desert their
homes and seek independence in distant districts； or ally themselves
with their oppressors to assist in the oppression of other tribes。 Thus
the seeds of anarchy are sown throughout Africa； which fall among tribes
naturally prone to discord。 The result is horrible confusion；distrust
on all sides；treachery； devastation； and ruin。
This was the state of Central Africa and the White Nile when I was first
honoured with the notice of Ismail Pacha； the present Khedive of Egypt。
I had received certain intimations from the Foreign Minister； Nubar
Pacha； concerning the Khedive's intentions； a short time previous to an
invitation with which I was honoured by his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales to accompany their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess during
their tour in Egypt。
It is almost needless to add that； upon arrival in Egypt； the Prince of
Wales； who represented at heart the principles of Great Britain； took
the warmest interest in the suppression of the slave trade。
The Khedive； thus supported and encouraged in his ideas of reform；
concluded his arrangements for the total abolition of the slave trade；
not only throughout his dominions； but he determined to attack that
moral cancer by actual cautery at the very root of the evil。
I was accordingly requested to draw up a plan for the proposed
expedition to Central Africa。
After some slight modifications； I received from the Khedive the
following firman：
〃We； Ismail； Khedive of Egypt； considering the savage condition of the
tribes which inhabit the Nile Basin；
〃Considering that neither government； nor laws； nor security exists in
those countries；
〃Considering that humanity enforces the suppression of the slave…hunters
who occupy those countries in great numbers；
〃Considering that the establishment of legitimate commerce throughout
those countries will be a great stride towards future civilization； and
will result in the opening to steam navigation of the great equatorial
lakes of Central Africa； and in the establishing a permanent government
。 。 。 。 We have decreed and now decree as follows：
〃An expedition is organized to subdue to our authority the countries
situated to the south of Gondokoro；
〃To suppress the slave trade； to introduce a system of regular commerce；
〃To open to navigation the great lakes of the equator；
〃And to establish a chain of military stations and commercial depots；
distant at intervals of three days' march； throughout Central Africa；
accepting Gondokoro as the base of operations。
〃The supreme command of this expedition is confided to Sir Samuel White
Baker； for four years； commencing from 1st April； 1869； to whom also we
confer the most absolute and supreme power； even that of death； over all
those who may compose the expedition。
〃We confer upon him the same absolute and supreme authority over all
those countries belonging to the Nile Basin south of Gondokoro。〃
It was thus that the Khedive determined at the risk of his popularity
among his own subjects to strike a direct blow at the slave trade in its
distant nest。 To insure the fulfilment of this difficult enterprise； he
selected an Englishman； armed with a despotic power such as had never
been intrusted by a Mohammedan to a Christian。
The slave trade was to be suppressed； legitimate commerce was to be
introduced； and protection was to