I had known him
during my first expedition to the Nile sources as Ismail Bey, president
of the council at Khartoum. He had lately been appointed governor, and I
could only regret that my excellent friend had not been in that capacity
from the commencement of the expedition, as I should have derived much
assistance from his great energy and intelligence.
Ismail Ayoub Pacha is a Circassian. I have observed that all those
officers who are superior to the average in intellect and general
capacity belong to this race. The Circassians are admirably represented
in Cherif Pacha, who is well known and respected by all Europeans in
Egypt for his probity and high intelligence; and Riaz Pacha, who was
lately the Minister for Public Instruction, is a Circassian much beloved
and respected.
Ismail Ayoub had commenced a great reform in the Soudan, in his
endeavour to put down the wholesale system of bribery and corruption
which was the ruin of the country. He had also commenced a great work,
according to the orders he had received from the Khedive, to remove the
sudd or obstruction to the navigation of the great White Nile. He
succeeded in re-opening the White Nile to navigation in the following
season.
The Khedive had given this important order in consequence of letters
that I had written on 31st August, 1870, to the Minister of the
Interior, Cherif Pacha, and to his Highness direct on 8th October, 1871,
in which communications I had strenuously advocated the absolute
necessity of taking the work in hand, with a determination to
re-establish the river in its original navigable condition.
Ismail Ayoub Pacha had been working with a large force, and he had
succeeded in clearing, according to his calculations, one half of the
obstruction, which extended for many miles.
There was no engineering difficulty in the undertaking, which was simply
a matter of time and steady labour.
The immense force of the main stream, thus confined by matted and
tangled vegetation, would materially assist the work, as the clearing
was commenced from below the current.
The work would become lighter as the head of the sudd would be neared.
A curious accident had happened to Ismail Pacha by the sudden break-up
of a large portion of the sudd, that had been weakened by cutting a long
but narrow channel.
The prodigious rafts of vegetation were hurried before the stream like
ice-floes, and these masses having struck against a line of six noggurs,
the vessels were literally swept away and buried beneath the great
rafts, until they capsized and disappeared for ever in the deep channel.
Late in the evening Ismail Pacha took leave and returned in his steamer
to Khartoum. We had enjoyed a long conversation, and I felt sure that
the Soudan and Central Africa would quickly feel the benefit of Ismail
Ayoub Pacha's administration, as he combined great energy and
determination with nine years' experience of the requirements of his
province.
On 29th June the new steamer, the Khedive, rounded the point at full
speed with our diahbeeah in tow.
All the population of Khartoum thronged to the banks and the new quay to
witness the arrival of the extraordinary steamer that travelled without
paddles, and which had been constructed by the Englishmen at Ismailia
(Gondokoro).
The troops were in order, and as the Khedive drew alongside the quay we
were warmly welcomed by Ismail Ayoub Pacha with the usual formalities.
A few days latter, a steamer arrived from Fashoda with the three vessels
in tow belonging to Abou Saood, which had attempted to pass the
government station with more than 600 slaves on board, about 100 having
died of the small-pox since I had left the Bahr Giraffe. The small-pox
was still raging on board, therefore the vessels were taken to the north
bank of the Blue Nile and placed in quarantine.
As the guard passed by with prisoners, I recognized my friend the
vakeel, Wat Hojoly, in irons. The unfortunate man had found a new
governor at Fashoda instead of his old acquaintance; thus he did NOT
pass free; as I had anticipated.
Walking next to the vakeel, heavily chained, with his wrists secured in
a block of wood similar to stocks, came the cream of ruffians,
Salim-Wat-Howah, nailed at last.
This villainous-looking fellow was afterwards tried before the
medjeldis, or tribunal, and by overpowering evidence he was found guilty
of having first threatened to attack Major Abdullah in the government
camp of Fatiko; and secondly, with having actually given the orders to
fire, and having fired himself, on 2nd August, 1872, when we had been
treacherously attacked by Abou Saood's company.
I spoke in favour of Wat Hojoly, as he had otherwise behaved well
towards the government, and he was simply carrying out the orders of his
master, Abou Saood.
It had been the usual custom in the Soudan to spare the employers, who
were the most responsible parties, but to punish the small fry, such as
vakeels, and the reis, or captains of vessels.
Ismail Pacha had made great improvements in Khartoum, and he had
completed the new government house that had been commenced by his
predecessor, Moomtazz Pacha, who was also a most intelligent Circassian.
He had likewise made a great change by converting a large open space
into a public garden, where it was his intention that the military band
should play every evening for the amusement of the people.
Steam irrigation works were also commenced on the north side of the Blue
Nile for the cultivation of cotton.
After a few days at Khartoum we took leave of our good friend, Ismail
Ayoub Pacha, and started for Cairo by steamer.
I had left my two boys, Saat and Bellaal, with Ismail Pacha, to be
instructed either as musicians or soldiers, the latter profession being
their great ambition.
