Ismailia | Page 7

I had originated, was now completed by
the untiring energy and patience of my successor. The large steamer of
251 tons was put together at Khartoum, to add to the river flotilla, thus
increasing the steam power from four vessels, when I had arrived in
1870, to THIRTEEN, which in 1877 were plying between the capital of
the Soudan and the equator. The names of Messrs. Samuda Brothers

and Messrs. Penn and Co. upon the three steel steamers and engines
which they had constructed for the expedition are now evidences of the
civilizing power of the naval and mechanical engineers of Great Britain,
which has linked with the great world countries that were hitherto
excluded from all intercourse.
There is still some mystery attached to the Albert N'yanza. It has been
circumnavigated by Signor Gessi, in the steel life-boats, and
subsequently by Colonel Mason of the American army, who was
employed under Colonel Gordon. Both of these officers agree that the
southern end of the lake is closed by a mass of "ambatch," and that a
large river reported as 400 yards in width flows INTO the Albert
N'yanza. On the other hand, the well-known African explorer Mr.
Stanley visited the lake SOUTH of the ambatch limit, to which he was
guided by orders of the King M'tese;. At that spot it was called the
"M'woota N'zige;," the same name which the lake bears throughout
Unyoro, therefore there can be no reasonable doubt that it is the same
water. The description of the ambatch block and the river flowing into
the lake explains the information that was given to me by native traders,
who declared they had come by canoe from Karagwe;, via the Albert
N'yanza, but that it would be difficult without a guide to discover the
passage where the lake was extremely narrow and the channel tortuous
into the next broad water.
Colonel Gordon has continued the amicable relations established by
myself with the Unyoro chief Rionga, and with M'tese;, King of
Uganda.
The commercial aspect of the equatorial provinces is improving, but
our recent experience in South Africa must teach the most sanguine that
very many years must elapse before the negro tribes become amenable
to the customs and improvements of civilized communities.
The expedition of 1869 which His Highness the Khedive entrusted to
my command laid the foundation for reforms which at that time would
have appeared incredible in Egypt. The slave-trade has been suppressed
through the agency of British influence, persistently supported by the
Khedive; Darfur, the hot-bed of slave-hunting, has been conquered and
annexed; Colonel Gordon has the supreme command of the entire
Soudan; Malcolm Pacha is commissioned to sweep the slave traffic
from the Red Sea.

With this determination to adopt the ideas of Europe, the Khedive has
passed through the trying ordeal of unpopularity in his own country,
but, by a cool disregard for the hostility of the ignorant, he has adhered
to a policy which has gained him the esteem of all civilized
communities. He has witnessed the bloody struggle between Russia and
Turkey, and though compelled as a vassal state to render military
assistance to the Sultan, he has profited by the lesson, and has
determined by a wise reform to avoid the errors which have resulted in
anarchy and desolation throughout the Ottoman Empire.
In the year 1870 the slave-hunting of Central Africa was condemned.
Since that time Englishmen have been honoured with the special
attention of the Khedive, and have been appointed to posts of the
highest confidence. European tribunals were established in the place of
consular jurisdiction, British government officials have been invited to
reform the financial administration, and Mr. Rivers Wilson has been
induced to accept the responsible office of Minister of Finance. Nubar
Pacha has been recalled to office, and he must regard with pride the
general confidence occasioned throughout Europe by his reappointment.
The absolute despotism hitherto inseparable from Oriental ideas of
government has been spontaneously abrogated by the Khedive, who
has publicly announced his determination that the future administration
shall be conducted by a council of responsible ministers.
England has become the great shareholder in the Suez Canal, which is
the important link with our Indian Empire. At the alarm of war we have
already seen the fleet of steam transports hurrying through the isthmus,
and carrying native troops to join the British forces in the
Mediterranean. We have learnt to know, and the Khedive has wisdom
to understand, that the bonds between Egypt and Great Britain are
inseparable. At the same time we have been aided by the cordial
alliance of France in promoting the advance of free institutions and the
growth of European influence in the administration of the country.
England and France, who struggled in hostile rivalry upon the sands
and seas