Chapter I

THE EXPEDITION.

Programme—Start from Cairo—Arrive at Berber—Plan of Exploration— The River Atbara—Abyssinian Affluents—Character of Rivers—Causes of Nile Inundations—Violence of the Rains—Arrival at Khartoum— Description of Khartoum—Egyptian Authorities—Taxes—The Soudan— Slave-Trade of the Soudan—Slave-Trade of the White Nile—System of Operations—Inhuman Proceedings—Negro Allies—Revelations of Slave-Trade—Distant Slave Markets—Prospects of the Expedition— Difficulties at the Outset—Opposition of the Egyptian Authorities— Preparations for Sailing—Johann Schmidt—Demand for Poll-Tax— Collision before starting—Amiable Boy!—The Departure—The Boy Osman —Banks of White Nile—Change in Disposition of Men—Character of the River—Misery of Scene—River Vegetation—Ambatch Wood—Johann's Sickness—Uses of Fish-skin—Johann Dying—Johann's Death—New Year —Shillook Villages—The Sobat River—Its Character—Bahr Giraffe— Bahr el Gazal—Observations—Corporal Richarn—Character of Bahr el Gazal—Peculiarity of River Sobat—Tediousness of Voyage—Bull Buffalo—Sali Achmet killed—His Burial—Ferocity of the Buffalo— "The Clumsy" on the Styx—Current of White Nile—First View of Natives —Joctian and his Wife—Charming Husband—Natron—Catch a Hippopotamus—"Perhaps it was his Uncle"—Real Turtle is Mock Hippopotamus—Richarn reduced to the Ranks—Arrival at the Zareeba— Fish Spearing—The Kytch Tribe—White Ant Towers—Starvation in the Kytch Country—Destitution of the Natives—The Bull of the Herd—Men and Beasts in a bad Temper—Aboukooka—Austrian Mission Station—Sale of the Mission-House—Melancholy Fate of Baron Harnier—The Aliab Tribes—Tulmuli of Ashes—The Shir Tribe—The Lotus Harvest—Arrival at Gondokoro—Discharge Cargo