Thus
the seeds of anarchy are sown throughout Africa, which fall among tribes
naturally prone to discord. The result is horrible confusion, - distrust
on all sides, - treachery, devastation, and ruin.
This was the state of Central Africa and the White Nile when I was first
honoured with the notice of Ismail Pacha, the present Khedive of Egypt.
I had received certain intimations from the Foreign Minister, Nubar
Pacha, concerning the Khedive's intentions, a short time previous to an
invitation with which I was honoured by his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales to accompany their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess during
their tour in Egypt.
It is almost needless to add that, upon arrival in Egypt, the Prince of
Wales, who represented at heart the principles of Great Britain, took
the warmest interest in the suppression of the slave trade.
The Khedive, thus supported and encouraged in his ideas of reform,
concluded his arrangements for the total abolition of the slave trade,
not only throughout his dominions, but he determined to attack that
moral cancer by actual cautery at the very root of the evil.
I was accordingly requested to draw up a plan for the proposed
expedition to Central Africa.
After some slight modifications, I received from the Khedive the
following firman: -
"We, Ismail, Khedive of Egypt, considering the savage condition of the
tribes which inhabit the Nile Basin;
"Considering that neither government, nor laws, nor security exists in
those countries;
"Considering that humanity enforces the suppression of the slave-hunters
who occupy those countries in great numbers;
"Considering that the establishment of legitimate commerce throughout
those countries will be a great stride towards future civilization, and
will result in the opening to steam navigation of the great equatorial
lakes of Central Africa, and in the establishing a permanent government
. . . . We have decreed and now decree as follows: -
"An expedition is organized to subdue to our authority the countries
situated to the south of Gondokoro;
"To suppress the slave trade; to introduce a system of regular commerce;
"To open to navigation the great lakes of the equator;
"And to establish a chain of military stations and commercial depots,
distant at intervals of three days' march, throughout Central Africa,
accepting Gondokoro as the base of operations.
"The supreme command of this expedition is confided to Sir Samuel White
Baker, for four years, commencing from 1st April, 1869; to whom also we
confer the most absolute and supreme power, even that of death, over all
those who may compose the expedition.
"We confer upon him the same absolute and supreme authority over all
those countries belonging to the Nile Basin south of Gondokoro."
It was thus that the Khedive determined at the risk of his popularity
among his own subjects to strike a direct blow at the slave trade in its
distant nest.
