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
CHAPTER II.
BAD RECEPTION AT GONDOKORO.
Reports of Speke and Grant—The Bari Tribe—Description of the Natives
—Effects of poisoned Arrows—Hostility of the Bari Tribe—Atrocities
of the Trading Parties—Lawlessness at Gondokoro-A Boy shot—The first
Mutiny—Decision of my Wife—The Khartoum Escort—Arrival of Speke
and Grant—Gladness at meeting them—Their Appearance—Speke and
Grant's Discoveries—Another Lake reported to exist—Speke's
Instructions—Arrange to explore the Luta N'zige—Scarcity at
Gondokoro—Speke and Grant depart to Khartoum
CHAPTER III.
GUN ACCIDENT.
Gun Accident—Birds ruin the Donkeys—Arrangement with Mahommed—His
Duplicity—Plot to obstruct my Advance—The Boy Saat—History of Saat
—First Introduction to Saat—Turned out by Mistake—Saat's Character
—Something brewing—Mutiny of Escort—Preparation for the worst—
Disarm the Mutineers—Mahommed's Desertion—Arrangement with Koorshid
Aga—The last Hope gone—Expedition ruined—Resolution to advance—
Richarn faithful—Bari Chief's Report—Parley with Mutineers—
Conspiracy again—Night Visit of Fadeela—"Quid pro Quo"—"Adda," the
Latooka—Arrange to start for Latooka—Threats of Koorshid's People—
Determination to proceed—Start from Gondokoro—My own Guide.
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST NIGHT'S MARCH.
Bivouacking—Arrival at Belignan—Attempts at Conciliation—I shame
my Men—The March—Advantages of Donkeys—Advice for Travellers—
Want of Water—A forced March—Its Difficulties—Delays on the Road—
Cleverness of the Donkeys—Party dead-beat—Improvidence of Monkey—
We obtain Water—Native Tit-Bits—Surrounded by Natives—
Cross-Examination—Recognition of the Chief—Interest of Natives—The
Monkey Wallady—We leave Tollogo—The Ellyria Pass—A Race for
Ellyria—Ellyrian Villages palisaded—Outmarched by the Turks—
Ibrahim and his Men—Attempt at Reconciliation—Diplomacy—Peace
established—Arrive at Ellyria—Legge, the Chief of Ellyria—Presents
to Ibrahim—Legge's Intemperance—Violent Storm—No Supplies—
Formation of Skulls.