A poor little Abyssinian boy, about eleven years of age, had one day
crawled through the high river grass to escape the observation of the
sentries, and suddenly appeared on the deck of my diahbeeah to claim
protection. He was streaming with blood, and had been shamefully
ill-used by his master, who was a captain in the Egyptian regiment. The
boy demanded his freedom, and I immediately granted his release (This
boy, named Amam, was a great example to others in his general good
conduct and integrity. He accompanied us throughout the subsequent
trials of the expedition with much devotion, and he is now one of our
household in England).
This forfeiture of this child was a warning that had an excellent effect
in favour of the slaves, but was very unpopular among the force.
Although I regretted the ill feeling which existed on all sides, I
considered the position with patience; and I could not help admitting
that this was a natural and inevitable consequence of a sudden reform
which threatened so many interests.
At the same time, I was determined to carry out my mission without
shrinking from any consequences. I was ordered to suppress the slave
trade; therefore that slave trade should be suppressed; and I trusted
that time would eventually give me so improved a control over the
feelings of my people, that I might succeed in a reform and yet banish
all ill-will.
In the midst of anxieties, there was one lasting satisfaction in my
position. I had the power to execute absolute justice, and I wished for
no other reputation among my people, whether slaves or freemen, than the
confidence of pure equity to be obtained without delay. At all hours I
was accessible, and even the complaints of little children were attended
to with the same attention that was bestowed upon more important
appeals. I hoped by this line of conduct to be able at length to
incorporate myself with the expedition, and to gain the affection of my
people; without which, success would be impossible.
The terrible absence of discipline among the troops was a great
difficulty, but I had already improved them greatly. Since the mutiny of
the black division at Taka, in the year 1865, when they murdered their
officers, and committed many atrocities, the Egyptian officers had
always distrusted them.
I was told by the colonel, Raouf Bey, that if a black soldier were
punished, his comrades would probably mutiny, should he be a general
favourite. The extreme laxity of discipline was the result of a want of
vigour on the part of the officers.
