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However； with all his faults； I should have been glad of Wat…el…Mek to
command the irregular force。
In the days when Debono was the proprietor of the Madi station；
Wat…el…Mek had been the sole vakeel； and although he was a tyrant； he
was not disliked by the natives。 Since Debono had sold his stations to
the firm of Agad & Co。； every separate camp was governed by an
independent vakeel； thus there were many tyrants instead of one。
These numerous agents acted in opposition to each other in the purchase
of ivory。 If a native of Fatiko should take a tusk to sell at the
station of Fabbo； he would run the chance of being shot upon his return。
This system of attempted monopoly was carried out throughout the
country； and naturally resulted in anarchy。 Although all the vakeels and
companies belonged to one firm； they acted as rival traders。 Thus； if
slaves ran away from one station and took shelter with the natives of a
village belonging to the people of another vakeel； an attack would be
made upon the village that harboured the runaways； and their women and
children would be immediately captured。
This onslaught on the village under the protection of a certain station
would be quickly returned by a counter…attack upon a village belonging
to the encroaching vakeel。 This system was purposely adopted； as it
served to divide the country into opposing sections； which prevented the
natives from forming a general coalition。
It may readily be imagined that my arrival was hailed with satisfaction
by the natives throughout the country。 Should a stranger have filled my
position； there might have been some suspicion in the minds of the
natives； but I had been so well known during my former journey； that the
people accepted the new government with thorough confidence。
Wat…el…Mek； who was always the discoverer of unknown lands； had lately
visited a new country in the east。
It may be remembered by the readers of 〃The Albert N'yanza；〃 that
shortly before my return from Shooa （only six miles from Fatiko） a new
country named Lira had been discovered by the vakeel of Koorshad
Agha〃Ibrahim。〃 Poor Ibrahim was dead； otherwise I should have had a
good and dependable man。
The Lira country was rich in ivory； but the greatest prize discovered
was the presence of donkeys； which are quite unknown in the White Nile
districts。
Wat…el…Mek had now penetrated beyond Lira； and had reached the country
of Langgo； which was exceedingly interesting。
From the description of the people； it appeared that the portion of the
Langgo visited by them was entirely different from the country between
Gondokoro and Unyoro。
The expedition HAD CROSSED THE SOBAT RIVER； and had arrived in the
Langgo about 130 miles due east of Fatiko。 They described the country as
similar to portions of the Soudan。 Generally； flat plains of the rich
grass known as negheel； which never grows high； and is the finest
pasturage。 The trees were for the most part Soont （Acacia Arabica）；
which is not met with in the White Nile countries south of the Sobat
junction。
The Langgos were an immense tribe； but were； like the Baris； divided
under many chiefs。 These people were exceedingly large and powerful； and
were esteemed as great warriors。 They seldom ate flour； but lived upon
the milk and flesh of their innumerable herds。
The cattle were as large as those of England； and were celebrated for
the extreme size of their horns。
Wat…el…Mek had made a razzia with a very powerful force； collected from
all the stations of Abou Saood； and he had succeeded in capturing an
enormous number of these fine animals； together with a large herd of
donkeys。
These strange cattle would not live at Fatiko； as the herbage was quite
different to that to which they had been accustomed。 They died in such
numbers； that in three months only three or four remained out of as many
thousand。 Thus all these beautiful beasts were wasted。
The river Sobat was described as flowing from the south； and was known
as the Chol。 The Asua river is only one day's march or about twenty
miles； east of Fatiko。 The Sobat is never dry and is reported to be a
noble river； this suggests that Speke Victoria N'yanza； or the Bahr
Ingo's eastern corner； must have an effluent in addition to the Victoria
Nile； that flows from M'tese's capital of Uganda。
Beyond Langgo there is a country called Lobbohr； which is said to
possess camels。 In the Lobbohr there is a river called Jooba。 This is； I
believe； the Juba that flows into the Indian Ocean； as the report
continues that： 〃Arabs arrive at Lobbohr mounted upon camels； and armed
with swords and pistols； but without guns。〃 Horses and donkeys are also
reported to exist in Lobbohr。
There can be no doubt that most important countries lie to the east of
Fatiko； and should the story of camels prove correct； there will be no
difficulty in opening up a commercial route。
It appears that at Langgo the demand for beads is very great； as the
natives work them into patterns upon their matted hair。 Ivory has little
or no value； and exists in large quantities。
The natives refuse to carry loads； and they transport an elephant's tusk
by boring a hole in the hollow end； through which they attach a rope； it
is then dragged along the ground by a donkey。 The ivory is thus
seriously damaged 。 。 。 。 。
Such was the position of affairs at Fatiko in March； 1872。 New and
important countries had been investigated； not by explorers or traders；
but by the brigands of Abou Saood； whose first introduction was the
unprovoked attack and carrying off of slaves and cattle。
Such conduct could only terminate in an extension of the ruin which a
similar course had determined in every country that had been occupied by
the traders of the White Nile。
I trusted that my arrival would create a great reform； and restore
confidence throughout the country。 The news had spread far and wide。 The
scarlet soldiers were regarded as a distinct species； and the report
quickly circulated； that the 〃Pacha's troops were entirely different
from any that had hitherto been seen； as their clothes were red； and
their muskets were loaded from the wrong end。〃
I now determined to establish a station at Fatiko； to represent the
government during my absence in the south。
Abou Saood had sworn fidelity。 Of course I did not believe him； but as
the natives had welcomed the government； I could not leave them without
protection。
It was therefore arranged with Abou Saood that after the expiration of
the contract； all operations should cease。 He would simply remain on
sufferance in the country； until he should be able to transport his
ivory to Gondokoro。 This could only be effected by the arrival of
carriers from his stations； about 180 miles west of the Nile； in the
Makkarika country。 His first step would therefore be to communicate with
the vakeel Atroosh； who commanded about 600 men in the west station。
I ordered Abou Saood to disarm the seventy Baris who were in his service
at Fatiko； as I would not allow muskets to be placed in the hands of
natives who were hostile to the government。
This he promised to do； but of course he evaded the or