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:
