Ourlamentedtraveller，Livingstone，wascompletelyinerrorwhenheconjecturedthatthelargeriverLualabathathehaddiscoveredsouth-westoftheTanganyikalakewasanaffluentoftheBahrGazal。TheLualabaisfartothewestoftheNileBasin，andmaypossiblyflowtotheCongo。Ihaveshowninformerworks，indescribingthesystemoftheNile，thatthegreataffluentsofthatriverinvariablyflowfromthesouth-east——vide，theAtbara，BlueNile，Sobat；andtheAsua，whichisveryinferiorsothethreegreatriversnamed。
WehavelastlytheVictoriaNileoftheVictoriaN’yanza，followingthesameprinciple，andflowingfromthesouth-easttotheAlbertN’yanza。
ThisprovesthatthedirectdrainageoftheNileBasinisfromthesouth-easttothenorth-west；itisthereforeprobablethat，astheinclinationofthecountryistowardsthewest，theremaybesomeescapefromthelakemarshesoftheBahrGazalinthesamedirection。
On21stAugust，havingbeenabsenttendays，duringwhichwehadbeenveryhardatwork，exploringintheunhealthymarshesoftheBahrGaza]，wereturnedhopelesslytoTewfikeeyah。
ThegreatriverNilewasentirelylost，andhadbecomeaswamp，similartotheconditionoftheBahrGiraffe。Itwasimpossibletoguesstheextentoftheobstruction；butIwasconfidentthatitwouldbesimplyaquestionoftimeandlabourtocleartheoriginalchannelbyworkingfrombelowthestream。Thegreatpowerofthecurrentwouldassistthework，andwithpropermanagementthisformerlybeautifulrivermightberestoredtoitsoriginalcondition。ItwouldbeimpossibletocleartheBahrGiraffepermanently，astherewasnotsufficientbreadthofchanneltopermittheescapeofhugeraftsofvegetationoccupyingthesurfaceofperhapsanacre；butthegreatwidthoftheNile，ifonceopened，togetherwiththeimmensepowerofthestream，would，withalittleannualinspection，assurethepermanencyofthework。
IcametotheconclusionthataspecialexpeditionmustbesentfromKhartoumtotakethisimportantworkinhand，asitwouldbequiteuselesstoannexandattempttocivilizeCentralAfrica，unlessafreecommunicationexistedwiththeouterworldbywhichacommercialchannelcouldbeopened。Myexploration，inwhichIhadbeenablyassistedbyLieutenantBakerandMr。Higginbotham，hadprovedthatforthepresentitwasimpossibletopenetratesouthbythemainriver，thereforeImustmakeallpreparationsforanadvancebytheBahrGiraffe，whereIhopedthatourpastlabourmighthaveinsomedegreeimprovedthechannel。
ThecloseofAugustshowedameantemperatureof736/10degreesat6
a。m。，and85degreesFahrenheitatnoon，withsevendaysofheavyandsevenoflightrain。Althoughthestationwasadmirablydrained，theclimateactedunfavourablyuponthepeople。On9thSeptemberitwasnecessaryfortheunfortunateDr。Gedge，mychiefmedicalofficer，toreturntoKhartoum，ashisstateofhealthrequiredimmediatechange。
Justasthediahbeeahwasleavingthestation，avesselarrivedfromtheBahrGazal，bywhichIreceivedaletterfromtheGermantraveller，Dr。
Schweinfurth。Thisgentleman，towhomIwasquiteunknownpersonally，hadtheextremecourtesyandgenerositytointrustmewithallthedetailsofhisgeographicalobservations，collectedinhisjourneyintheWesternNileBasin。
ItwasnecessaryformetoreturnpersonallytoKhartoumtoassuremyselfthatmyarrangementsshouldbecarriedoutwithoutdelay。IhaddeterminedthattheexpeditionshouldstartforthesouthfromTewfikeeyahon1stDec。，atwhichtimetheNilewouldbefull，andthewindstrongfromthenorth。AsTewfikeeyahwasnearlyhalfwayinactualdistancefromKhartoumtoGondokoro，Itrustedthatweshouldhavetimetoaccomplishtheworkofcuttingthroughthemarshes，andbeenabledtopasstheshallowsbeforetherivershouldbegintofall。IthereforesentMr。HigginbothamtoKhartoumtoengagevessels；Ifollowedon15thSeptember，withtheNo。10steamertowingmydiahbeeah——andtenemptyvesselstobringupasupplyofcorn。
WereachedKhartoumonthe21stSept。at9。30a。m。，totheastonishmentofthegovernorandpopulation，whocouldnotunderstandwhyIhadreturned。InowmetforthefirsttimetheVicomtedeBizemont，whowastoaccompanytheexpedition。ThisgentlemanhadbeenintrustedbytheEmpressoftheFrenchwithaverygracioustokenofherinterestintheexpedition，whichhepresentedasagiftfromherMajestytomywife。I
nowheardforthefirsttimethestartlingnewsofthewarbetweenFranceandPrussia。IfoundDr。Gedgealive，butinadeplorablestateofhealth。Itwasimpossibleforhimtotravelnorth，thereforehewascarefullyattendedbytheGreekphysiciantotheforces，Dr。Georgis。I
atoncesawthattherewasnohopeofrecovery。Mr。Higginbothamhadbeenexceedinglykindandattentivetohiswants。
Iwasverywellreceivedbymyoldfriend，DjiafferPacha，thegovernor-general，butasusualtheworkwasallbehind-hand，andMr。
Higginbothamhadbeenindespairuntilmyarrival。Onlysevenvesselswereforthcoming。Ihadexpectedthirty！Thus，itwouldagainbeimpossibletotransportthecamelsthatwereindispensableforthetransportofthesteamersfromGondokoro。Thiswasveryheart-breaking。
Insteadofcompletingtheexpeditionbyageneraldirectmovesouthwithallmaterial，transportanimals，store，&c。，intravellingorder，theoperationwouldextendoversomeyears，forthesimplereasonthatthegovernmenthadnotthemeansoftransport。EvennowthesteamershadnotarrivedfromCairo。Thefifteenlargesloopshadfailedtopassthecataract；thus，IwasreducedtothemiserableopenvesselsofKhartoum，andeventhesewereofaninferiordescriptionandfewinnumber。
FortunatelyIhadbroughttenemptyvesselswithmefromTewfikeeyah，otherwiseweshouldnothavehadsufficienttransportforthenecessarysupplyofcorn。However，nowthatIhadarrived，thingsbegantomovealittlefaster。Ifindthisentryinmyjournal，dated”1stOctober，1870。Thermometer，6a。m。，80degrees；noon，94degrees。Wind，north。
ThefactofmyhavingcapturedtheboatsofKutchukAliandAgadwithslavesonboard，hasdeterminedapassive，butstubborn，resistanceinKhartoumtotheexpedition。Thisissharedbytheofficials。”AlthoughIwrotetoDjiafferPachamonthsagorequestinghimtosendmethirtyvessels，thereisnotoneactuallyready，neitheraretheremorethanseventobeobtained。Eventhesearenotpreparedforthejourney。
TheobjectappearstobetocausesuchdelayasshallthrowmebackuntiltherivershallbetoolowforthepassageoftheBahrGiraffe。”October2——IwroteanofficiallettertoDjiafferPacha，protestingagainstdelay，andremindinghimoftheKhedive’sinstructions。”
Theonlyauthoritywho，Ibelieve，takesarealinterestintheexpeditionisIsmailBey，whoisahighlyintellectualandcleverman。
ThisBeyisthePresidentoftheCouncil，andIhaveknownhimduringmanyyears。HespeaksexcellentFrench，andismoreEuropeaninhisideasthananyofmyacquaintances。[*]
[*Footnote：SincethiswaswrittenIsmailBeyhasbecomePacha，andisgovernoroftheKhartoumprovince。]
TheactionthatIhadtakenagainsttheproceedingsofthegovernorofFashodawasverydistastefultotheKhartoumpublic。Imuchregrettedthenecessity，butIcouldnothaveactedotherwise。Thiscomplicationplacedmyfriend，DjiafferPacha，inamostunpleasantposition，astheKoordiofFashodawashisemployee；itwouldthereforeappearthatnogreatvigilancehadbeenexercisedbythegovernor-generalatKhartoum，andsuspicionsmightbearousedthatthecharacterandactsoftheFashodagovernormusthavebeenpreviouslyknowntotheKhartoumauthorities。
Thecurtainbegantorise，anddisclosedcertainfactsofwhichIoughttohavebeeninformedmanymonthsago，whenIfirstarrivedatKhartoum。
IheardfromMr。HigginbothamthattheprincipaltraderoftheWhiteNileAgadhadacontractwiththegovernment，whichgavehimtheexclusiverightoftradingthroughoutcertaindistantcountries。ThisareacomprisedaboutNINETYTHOUSANDSQUAREMILES！Thus，atthesametimethatIwasemployedbytheKhedivetosuppresstheslavetrade，toestablishcommerce，andtoannextheNileBasin，theWhiteNilecountriesthatweretobeannexedhadalreadybeenleasedbythegovernor-generaloftheSoudanforseveralthousandpoundssterlingperannum，togetherwiththemonopolyoftheivorytrade。
AcountrythatwasinnowayconnectedwithEgypt，andoverwhichEgypthadnomoreauthoritythanEnglandhasoverChina，hadactuallybeenleased-outtoadventurersoftheclassknownasmerchantsatKhartoum，butthoroughlywellknowntotheauthoritiesasslave-hunters。
ItwashardlycrediblethatsuchdustshouldbethrownintheeyesoftheKhedive，afterthestringentordershehadgiven；butEgyptiscelebratedfordust；theSoudanislittleelsebutdust，thereforewemustmakesomeallowancefortheblindnessoftheauthorities。MyeyeshadevidentlybeenfilledwithKhartoumdust，foritwasonlynowuponmyreturnfromTewfikeeyahthatIdiscoveredthatwhichshouldhavebeenmadeknowntomeuponmyfirstarrivalfromCairotocommandtheexpedition。Itwasthetraderandlessee，AchmetSheikAgad，whohadappliedtoMr。Higginbothamasamediator，andhestatedclearlyacaseofgreathardship。Hehadpaidannuallyabout3000Lforthesolerightoftrading。Thus，ifhepaidrentforamonopolyoftheivory，andthegovernmentthenstartedastradersinivoryinthecountryleasedtohim，hewouldbeinthesamepositionasamanwhorentedacowatafixedsumperweek，buttheowner，nevertheless，insisteduponarighttohermilk。
Itwouldbeahardcaseuponthetradersatanyrate，evenshouldtheytradewithequalrightstothegovernment。
Therewasnoactualbarteringofmerchandiseforivory，neitherwasanymerchandiseshippedfromKhartoum，exceptthatrequiredasclothingforthepeoplewhobelongedtotheslave-hunters’companies。Ifanhonest，legitimatetradewerecommencedbythegovernment，andlawandorderthoroughlyestablished，itwouldbecomeimpossiblefortheslavehunterstoexistintheWhiteNiledistricts。Theirso-calledtradeconsistedinharryingonecountrytoprocurecattleandslaves，whichtheyexchangedforivoryinotherdistricts。Ifagovernmentwereestablished，suchrazziasmustceaseatonce——andtheKhartoumtraderswouldbewithoutanoccupation。
IhadoriginallyproposedthatthedistrictsoftheWhiteNilesouthoflatitude14degreesN。shouldbeplacedundermycommand；this，forsomeunexplainedreason，wasreducedtolatitude5degreesN。，thusleavingthewholenavigableriverfreefromGondokorotoKhartoum，unlessI
shouldassumetheresponsibilityofliberatingslavesandseizingtheslaverswhereverImightfindthem。ThispowerIatonceassumedandexercised，althoughIpurposelyavoidedlandingandvisitingtheslave-hunters’stationsthatwerenotwithinmyjurisdiction。Iregardedtheriverasweregardthehighseas。
Itwasclearlycontrarytoallideasofequitythatthegovernmentshouldpurchaseivoryincountriesthathadbeenleasedtothetraders。
IwasthereforecompelledtoinvestigatethematterwiththeassistanceofDjiafferPacha，whohadmadethecontractinthenameofthegovernment。ItwasthenexplainedthattheentireWhiteNilewasrentedbythetraders。Thegovernmenthadassumedtherightandmonopolyoftheriver，andinfactofanypartofAfricathatcouldbereached，southofKhartoum；thusnotraderwaspermittedtoestablishhimself，oreventostartfromKhartoumfortheinterior，untilheshouldhaveobtainedaleasefromthegovernment。IfCentralAfricahadbeenalreadyannexed，andtheEgyptiangovernmenthadbeenestablishedthroughoutthecountry，Ishouldnothavecomplained；butInowfoundthatmymissionfromtheKhediveplacedmewithin”ahousedividedagainstitself。”Iwastoannexacountrythatwasalreadyleasedoutbythegovernment。
Mytaskwastosuppresstheslavetrade，whentheKhartoumauthoritieswellknewthattheirtenantswereslave-hunters；toestablishlegitimatecommercewherethemonopolyoftradehadalreadybeenleasedtotraders；
andtobuildupagovernmentuponsoundandjustprinciples，thatmustofnecessityruintheslave-huntingandivory-collectingpartiesofKhartoum。
ItwaseasytoconceivethatmymissionwasregardedasfataltotheinterestsoftheSoudan。Althoughtheactualwordingofthecontractswaspure，andthelesseesboundthemselvestoabstainfromslave-hunting，andtobehaveinabecomingmanner，itwasthoroughlyunderstoodthattheyweresimplytopayagoodroundsumperannumpunctually，andthatnoquestionswouldbeasked。Therewerenoauthoritiesofthegovernmentinthosedistantcountries，neitherconsularagentstosendhomeunpleasantreports；thus，whenfairlyawayfromallrestraint，thetraderscouldactastheypleased。Itappearshardlycrediblethatalthoughthewordingofthecontractswasalmostholy，noexaminationofthevesselswasmadebeforetheirdeparturefromKhartoum。HadtheSoudangovernmentbeensincereinadeterminationtoleaseouttheWhiteNileforthepurposeofbenefitingthecountrybytheestablishmentoflegitimatecommerce，surelytheauthoritieswouldhaveconvincedthemselvesthatthetraders’vesselscontainedcargoesofsuitablemerchandise，insteadofbeingloadedwithammunition，andmannedbybandsofarmedpirates。
Iftheownerofapackofwolvesweretosendthemonacommissiontogatherwoolfromaflockofsheep，withthesimpleprotectionofsuchpartingadviceas”Begone，goodwolves，behaveyourselveslikelambs，anddonothurtthemutton！”theproprietorofthepackwouldbeheldresponsiblefortheactsofhiswolves。ThiswasthesituationintheSoudan。Theentirecountrywasleasedouttopiraticalslave-hunters，underthenameoftraders，bytheKhartoumgovernment；andalthoughtherent，intheshapeoflargesumsofmoney，hadbeenreceivedforyearsintothetreasuryoftheSoudan，myexpeditionwastoexplodelikeashellamongthetraders，andwouldatonceannihilatethetrade。Inowunderstoodthereasonforthealterationinmyproposedterritoriallimitfromthe14degreesN。lat。tothe5degrees。Khartoumisinlat。
15degrees35’N。GondokoroisN。lat。4degrees54’，thus，ifmyjurisdictionshouldbereducedtothesouthofGondokoro，theusualtrafficoftheWhiteNilemightcontinueinthenorthduringmyabsenceinthesouth，andtheoriginalcontractswouldbeundisturbed。