The Arabs were beginning to return to the fertile banks of the
river, and to rebuild their sakeeyahs or water-wheels. This change was
the result of a wise reform instituted by the Khedive, in dividing the
Soudan into provinces, each of which would be governed by a responsible
and independent official, instead of serving under a governor-general at
the distance of Khartoum.
Hussein Khalifah was now the governor of Berber. He was the great Arab
sheik of the desert who had so ably assisted Mr. Higginbotham in
transporting the machinery and steamer sections by camels from Korosko
to Berber across the great Nubian desert, for a distance of about 400
miles. The Arabs were much pleased at his appointment as governor, as he
was one of their race.
In starting from Berber for Souakim, I had the great misfortune to lose
by death one of my excellent Englishmen, David Samson. He had been
ailing for some time, and the intense heat of July was more than he
could endure in riding across the desert. Poor Samson died on the first
day's march, and I had his body conveyed to Berber, where it was buried
in the Coptic cemetery with every mark of respect.
This was a sad termination after a journey of nearly four years and a
half, when he was on the hopeful road towards home.
We were nearly wrecked during the voyage from Souakim to Suez, as the
engine of the sloop-of-war was out of repair. We then changed to another
steamer, which carried away the cap of her rudder during a heavy sea and
fresh northerly gale. Fortunately our English shipwrights were on board,
and Lieutenant Baker, R.N., knew his work; thus we escaped drowning on a
coral reef, which would assuredly have been our fate had we been left to
the ignorance of the officers and crew.
We reached Cairo on 24th August at 4.30 P.M. On 25th I had the honour
of presenting myself to his Highness the Khedive, to explain the large
chart of his new territory that I had annexed in Central Africa.
I received from his Highness the Imperial order of the Osmanie, 2nd
class, as a token of his approbation of my services. I had already had
the honour to accept from his hands the order of the Medjidie, 2nd
class, before I had started upon my mission. His Highness the Khedive
now conferred upon Lieutenant Baker the order of the Medjidie, 3rd
class.
I handed the botanical collection to his Highness the Khedive, which had
been carefully prepared throughout the journey by Lady Baker.
Unfortunately more than 300 specimens of plants had been destroyed by
the conflagration at Masindi. The botanical specimens, together with
samples of the fibres, skins, and the salt of the new territory, were
ordered to be forwarded to the Vienna Exhibition.
The Khedive expressed his determination to judge Abou Saood by a special
tribunal, composed of Cherif Pacha, Nubar Pacha, and Ismail Pacha, the
Minister of Finance. I handed seventeen documents to Nubar Pacha, with
evidence sworn to upon the Koran before witnesses, and properly sealed
by Wat-el-Mek, Suleiman, the sheiks of the country, Major Abdullah, and
others, against Abou Saood, charging him with various crimes, including
treason in having given the orders that his Fatiko company should fire
at me and the government troops. I took a receipt for these important
documents.
I had also brought up several of the "Forty Thieves" as viva-voce
witnesses, in addition to Lieutenant Baker, R.N., Lieutenant-Colonel
Abd-el-Kader, Captain Mohammed Deii, and two servants, Suleiman and
Mohammed Haroon. Thus all the evidence was in official order: -
I 26th Jumay Owal, 1289, report of Major Abdullah (commandant of
Fatiko): threatening conduct of Abou Saood's vakeels during my absence.
2. 28th Jumay Owal, 1289, the declaration of the regimental officers of
Fort Fatiko.
3. 6th October, 1872, 1st Shaban, 1289, the declaration of the vakeels
of Abou Saood (Wat-el-Mek and Suleiman), that they had acted according
to orders received from Abou Saood.
4. 26th Jumay Owal, 1289, Major Abdullah's declaration against Abou
Saood and his company at Fatiko.
5. 12th Jumay Ocher, 1289, declaration of the chiefs of the country,
complaining of the kidnapping of women and children, massacres, &c.,
committed by Abou Saood and his companies.
6. Declaration of Abou Saood's men, containing declarations of Mohammed,
Wat-el-Mek, and Besheer Achmet, that Abou Saood gave the order to fire
at the Pacha and the government troops. Two large papers.
7. 29th Jumay Owal, 1289, letter from Abou Saood from Fabbo.
8. 29th Rebi Owal, 1289, Major Abdullah's reasons for not detaining
Suleiman, and for not arresting Abou Saood.
9. 2nd Jumay Acher, 1289, letter from Abou Saood, Fatiko.
10. 29th Jumay Owal, 1289, order for confiscation of Fatiko after the
attack made upon the troops.
11. Letter from officers of Fabbo.
12. 4th Regeb, 1289, report of Abou Saood's escape with government guns,
&c.
13. 22nd Jumay Acher, 1289, letter from vakeel Suleiman, Fabbo.
14. 3rd November, 1872, proces-verbal; declaration of Suleiman and Abou
Saood's people.
15. 1st Shaban, 6th October, 1873, copy of orders to Wat-el-Mek.
16. Mohammed the dragoman's declaration.
17. Wat-el-Mek's declaration that he and his people were always paid by
Abou Saood in slaves, and that the conduct of the stations was according
to his orders. Also that he had obeyed Abou Saood's orders in attacking
me at Fatiko.
His Highness the Khedive had the kindness to confer promotion upon my
faithful officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Abd-el-Kader, to the rank of
kaimakam; and Captain Mohammed Deii to the rank of saccolassi. He also
granted a reward to the soldiers who had fought the battle of Masindi,
and marched through eight days of ambuscades to Foweera.
