To protest against my interference with his TRADE, this innocent
business being represented BY THREE VESSELS WITH SEVEN HUNDRED SLAVES
THAT WERE TO PASS UNCHECKED BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT STATION OF FASHODA.
I told Wat Hojoly that I did not think he would succeed upon this
occasion, but that I should certainly not lay hands upon him.
I had not received replies to my letters addressed to the Khedive,
therefore I was determined not to exert physical force again; at the
same time I made up my mind that the slave vessels should not pass
Fashoda.
After some delay, owing to a shallow portion of the river, we passed
ahead, and the fearful stench from the crowded slave vessels reeking
with small-pox followed us for quite a mile down the wind. (Fortunately
there was a powerful force with Wat Hojoly, whom I called upon for
assistance in heaving the steamer over the bank; otherwise we must have
dug a channel.)
On 19th June, at 3.30 P.M., we reached Fashoda. The governor at once
came on board to receive us.
This officer hall been only recently appointed, and he appeared to be
very energetic and desirous to assist me in the total extinction of the
slave trade. I assured the governor (Jusef Effendi) that I had entirely
suppressed it in my territory, and I had also suppressed the river trade
in 1870; but if the authorities were determined to connive at this
abomination, I had been placed in a disgracefully false position, and
had been simply employed on a fool's errand.
Jusef Effendi assured me that it would be impossible for vessels to pass
Fashoda with slave cargoes now that he represented the government, as
the Khedive had issued the most positive orders within the last six
months against the traffic in slaves; therefore such instructions must
be obeyed.
I did not quite see that obedience to such orders was absolutely
necessary, as the slave trade had been similarly prohibited by
proclamation in the reign of the late Said Pacha, but with no permanent
effect.
There were two fine steamers lying at Fashoda, which had formed a
portion of the fleet of six steamers that I had sent up from Cairo some
years ago to tow my flotilla up the White Nile. This was the first time
that I had ever seen them.
I now told Jusef Effendi that he would be held responsible for the
capture of Abou Saood's three vessels, together with the 700 slaves; at
the same time, it would be advisable to allow them to arrive at Fashoda
before their capture should be attempted; as the fact of such an
audacious contempt of law would at once implicate the former governor as
having been in the habit of connivance.
