- "Beyond the true eastern shore, the Dinka are said
to be settled in extensive villages, and at that time still furnished an
inexhaustible supply of slaves to the marauding expeditions of the
garrison of Fashoda. In 1870 Baker succeeded in putting an end to this
disorder, the knowledge of which penetrated to the most remote tribes."
The evidence of so trustworthy a traveller as Dr. Schweinfurth is
exceedingly valuable, as he was in the Western Nile districts at the
time that I was actively engaged; thus he had opportunities of
witnessing the results of my interference, and the hostility exhibited
by the authorities. He is simply in error concerning the importance of
the slave trade of the river, which he much underrates, as will have
already been seen by the fact of 700 slaves being stowed away upon only
three vessels belonging to Abou Saood.
These vessels, that were captured by my orders at Fashoda, on their way
towards Khartoum, were an example of the truth foretold by the traders
with whom Dr. Schweinfurth was travelling in the west - "that as soon as
the English Pacha had turned his back upon Fashoda, the governor would
relapse into his former habits, and levy a good round sum on the head of
every slave, and then let the contraband cargo pass without more ado."
There were always well-known slave routes through Kordofan, but these
channels became of extreme importance when I rendered the slave traffic
of the river impossible.
