ismailia-第83章
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contract entered into between Agad and Co。 with the Soudan government
would expire； and Abou Saood would be compelled to withdraw all his
people from the country； which would then remain solely in the hands of
the Khedive。
Throughout the subsequent expedition； I could always rely upon the
fidelity of these two men； Gimoro and Shooli。
After their departure to spread the good news far and wide； I had a long
conversation with my old servant； Mohammed； who I knew would give me
every information respecting the acts of Abou Saood and his people； as
he had been among them in these parts for many years。
He told me that my arrival at Fatiko was supposed to be improbable； as
the Gondokoro natives were known to be hostile to the government；
therefore it would be impossible to transport the baggage。 Although the
Baris were at war with the government； Abou Saood had about seventy of
these natives at Fatiko； armed with muskets； in his employ； thus he was
openly in league with the enemies of the Khedive's government。
The report among the slave companies asserted that Abou Saood had been
in league with Raoul Bey to frustrate the expedition； thus the
conspiracy of the officers headed by Raouf Bey； which I had checkmated；
was the grand move to effect a collapse of the expedition； and to leave
a clear field for the slave…traders。
〃Up to the present time； my arrangements have been able to overpower all
opposition。〃
The success of the corn collection at the moment of the conspiracy was
fatal to the machinations of Raouf Bey； and secured me the confidence of
the troops。
〃The success of every attack that I have personally commanded has
clinched this confidence。
〃The trader's people are discontented with their leaders； they are
without clothes or wages。
〃Their parties have been massacred in several directions by the natives。
Nearly 500 loads of ivory have been burned； together with one of their
stations； by a night attack of the Madi； in which the slave…hunters lost
thirty…five killed； and the rest of the party only escaped in the
darkness； and fled to the forests。
〃Thus I come upon them at a moment when they are divided in their
feelings。 A dread of the government is mingled with confidence in the
arrival of a strong military force； which would be auxiliary in the
event of a general uprising of the country。〃
I found several of my old men engaged as slave…hunters。 These people；
who had behaved well on my former voyage； confided all the news； and
were willing to serve the government。 Kamrasi； the former king of
Unyoro； was dead； and had been succeeded by his son； Kabba Rega。
Some few of the people of Abou Saood had been on a visit to the king
M'tese at Uganda。 This powerful ruler had been much improved by his
personal communication with the traders of Zanzibar。 He had become a
Mohammedan； and had built a mosque。 Even his vizier said his daily
prayers like a good Mussulman； and M'tese no longer murdered his wives。
If he cut the throat of either man or beast； it was now done in the name
of God； and the king had become quite civilized； according to the report
of the Arab envoys。 He kept clerks who could correspond； by letters； in
Arabic； and he had a regiment armed with a thousand guns； in addition to
the numerous forces at his command。
The Arab envoys of Abou Saood had been treated like dogs by the great
M'tese； and they had slunk back abashed； and were only glad to be
allowed to depart。 They declared that such a country would not suit
their business： the people were too strong for them； and the traders
from Zanzibar purchased their ivory from M'tese with cotton stuffs；
silks； guns； and powder； brass…coil bracelets； beads； &c。 The beads were
exchanged by equal weight for ivory。
〃Even at Fatiko the brass…coil bracelets from Zanzibar are now common。
Some of Abou Saood's people are actually dressed in Manchester
manufactures that have arrived via Zanzibar at Unyoro。 This is a
terrible disgrace to the Soudan authorities； thus the Zanzibar traders
are purchasing by legitimate dealing ivory that should； geographically
speaking； belong to Cairo。
〃While fair dealing is the rule south of the equator； piracy and ruin
are the rule of the north。
〃Abou Saood and his people are now in a dilemma。 For many years they
have pillaged the country； and after having taught the natives to regard
cows as the only medium of exchange for ivory； they have at length
exhausted the cattle。 Thus the transport of their large stock of ivory
has for a time become impossible； as sufficient cows cannot be collected
for the purpose。
〃Every load from Fatiko to Ismailia （Gondokoro） requires two cows； one
to Lobore； and another thence to the journey's end。
〃By the Nile traders' arrangements； the companies of Abou Saood receive
as their perquisite one…third of all the cattle that may be stolen in
successful razzias。
〃The consumption of cattle by these brigands is enormous。 All flour is
purchased in exchange for flesh； while flesh is also necessary for food；
thus the cow is being eaten at both ends。
〃The frightful drain upon the country may be imagined by
the following calculation； which is certainly below the truth：
〃If 1；000 loads of ivory must be carried to Ismailia；
2；000 cows are required as payment of carriers；
To capture in a razzia 3；000 cows；
1000 belong to the brigands as their perquisite；
300 are necessary to feed the native carriers and soldiers
_____ during the journey；
3；300 cows are required to deliver 1；000 loads of ivory a
distance of 165 miles； from Fatiko to Ismailia （Gondokoro）。
A station of 350 men consumes
daily 。 。 。 。 700 lbs。
In addition； they require to
exchange for flour 。 。 。 。 350 lbs。
…
Daily consumption of flesh 。 。 1；050 lbs。
〃The oxen of the country do not average more
than 170 lbs。 cleaned。
2；255 beasts are thus required annually。
…
5；555 oxen are necessary to feed and pay for the transport
from a station only 350 strong； according to the
customs of White Nile brigandage。
〃It must be remembered that at least a thousand； and sometimes double
that number of slaves； are prisoners in each station。 All these must be
fed。 The same principle is adopted in the exchange of flesh for flour；
thus the expenditure of cattle is frightful。 Not only oxen； but all the
breeding cows and young calves are killed without the slightest
reflection。 No country can support such wilful waste； thus after many
years of ravage； this beautiful province has become almost barren of
cattle。 The central districts occupied by the slave…traders having been
denuded of cattle； it has become necessary to make journeys to distant
countries。〃
The slave…hunters of Abou Saood had recently suffered a terrible defeat；
at the hands of the warlike tribe of Umiro； which was a just reward for
the horrible treachery of their party。
A man named Ali Hussein was a well…known employee of Abou Saood。 This
ruffian was an Arab。 He was a tall； wiry fellow； with a determined but
brutal cast of countenance； who was celebrated as a scoundrel among
scoundrels。 Even his fellows dreaded his brutality。 There was no crime
that he had not committed； and as his only virtue was extreme daring；
his reputation was terrible among the native population。
This fellow had waited upon my orders daily since my arrival at Fatiko。
At the death of the former vakeel of Fatiko； Ali Hussein had succeeded
to the command of the station。
He had arranged to make a descent upon the Umiro tribe； about six days'
march to the south…east。
He accordingly sent natives as spies； with specious messages to the
Umiro； announcing his intention of visiting them to purchase ivory。
With a party increased by volunteers from other stations to a force of
about 300 men； he arrived at Umiro。
The simple natives received him gladly； and showed extreme hospitality。
The country was thickly populated； and abounded with vast herds of the
finest cattle。
After a week's sojourn among the Umiro； during whic
