I was very sorry to say good-bye, and I parted with de
Bizemont and his companion, Le Blanc, with sincere regret.
I had now set everything in order; the vessels were loaded.
On 10th October, 1870, I find this entry in my journal:-
"Started for Tewfikeeyah. Thankful to be free from that hateful spot,
Khartoum. Nothing can exceed the misery of the place at this season. No
drainage - mud - dense population, with exaggerated stench. These enemies
to civilization have at length vanquished the European settlers.
"Djiaffer Pacha, accompanied by all the big people, came on board to
take an official farewell: embracing - bands of music - salutes of
cannon - steam up, and off, thank God! - I with a horrid cold and Julian
with nasty fever."
We were short of hands for wood-cutting, thus we only arrived at
Tewfikeeyah on 22d October. The river was now at its maximum, and had
risen at this spot from the lowest level of the dry season, fourteen
feet and one inch.
We were now busily employed, as I had arranged to start the first
division of the fleet for Gondokoro on the 1st December.
On 25th October several vessels attempted to pass the station with
slaves. All were captured and the slaves liberated.
"Many of the women slaves who were released from the slave vessels at
the first capture seemed thoroughly to realize the principle of
'liberte, fraternite, egalite,' as they ran away during the night, not
only with their new clothes recently given them by the government, but
they also stole some of the soldiers' kit. It is very difficult to
manage these people. The fact of their having been kidnapped by the
slave-hunters destroys all confidence, and they cannot understand their
true position. It is difficult to persuade them that the government has
interfered in their behalf simply with a view to their welfare; they
imagine that we have some ulterior object in their release; and many
have a strong suspicion that they may at some future time be transported
to some distant country and sold. They have been so often deceived that
they cannot understand the truth; and having been accustomed to brutal
treatment, they cannot comprehend the intention of kindness, which they
attribute to a wish to deceive them. This is a dreadful state of moral
degradation, which nothing but time and patience will overcome."
On the 23rd November the wind began steadily from the north. I was
nearly ready. Every vessel had been thoroughly repaired, but many were
so rotten that the caulking was considered by the English shipwrights as
quite unreliable for a long voyage. I had dragged the iron diahbeeah out
of the water, and had substituted new plates in many places where the
metal was honeycombed with rust.
