AbouSaoodorderedhispeopletobringanumberofstraw-roofsfromhisstation，toformaprotectionfortheofficers。Themenquicklyhousedthemselvesintemporaryhuts，andthecattlewereplacedforthenightinaregularamphitheatreofrock，whichformedanexcellentposition。
On8thMarch，Ireviewedthetroops，andhavinggiventhenativeswarningofmyintention，Ihadasham-fightandattackoftheFatikomountain。Havingfiredseveralrocketsatasupposedenemy，thetroopsadvancedintwocompaniestothenorthandsouthextremitiesofthemountain，whichtheyscaledwithgreatactivity，andjoinedtheirforcesonthecleanplateauofgraniteonthesummitoftheridge。Theeffectwasverygood，andappearedtodelightthenatives，whohadassembledinconsiderablenumbers。Afterfiringseveralvolleys，thetroopsdescendedthehill，andmarchedback，withthebandplaying。
Themusicofourbandbeingproducedsimplybyaconsiderablenumberofbugles，drums，andcymbals，aidedbyalargemilitarybass-drum，mightnothavebeenthoughtfirst-rateinEurope，butinAfricaitwasirresistible。
Thenativesarepassionatelyfondofmusic；andIbelievethesafestwaytotravelinthosewildcountrieswouldbetoplaythecornet，ifpossiblewithoutceasing，whichwouldinsureasafepassage。ALondonorgan-grinderwouldmarchthroughCentralAfricafollowedbyanadmiringandenthusiasticcrowd，who，ifhistuneswerelively，wouldformadancingescortofthemostuntiringmaterial。
Asmytroopsreturnedtotheirquarters，withthebandplayingrathercheerfulairs，weobservedthewomenracingdownfromtheirvillages，andgatheringfromalldirectionstowardsthecommoncentre。Astheyapproachednearer，thecharmsofmusicwereoverpowering，and，haltingforaninstant，theyassumedwhattheyconsideredthemostgracefulattitudes，andthendanceduptotheband。
Inashorttimemybuglerscouldhardlyblowtheirinstrumentsforlaughing，attheextraordinaryeffectoftheirperformance。Afantasticcrowdsurroundedthemastheyhaltedinourpositionamongtherocks；
andeveryminuteaddedtotheirnumber。
ThewomenthroughouttheShooliareentirelynaked，thustheeffectofafemalecrowd，boundingmadlyaboutasmusicalenthusiasts，wasveryextraordinary。Eventhebabieswerebroughtouttodance，andtheseinfants，strappedtotheirmothers’backs，andcoveredwithpumpkinshells，likeyoungtortoises，werejoltedaboutwithouttheslightestconsiderationfortheweaknessoftheirnecks，bytheirinfatuatedmothers。
Asusual，amongalltribesinCentralAfrica，theoldwomenwereevenmoredetermineddancersthantheyounggirls。SeveraloldVenusesweremakingthemselvesextremelyridiculous，astheysometimesdoincivilizedcountrieswhenattemptingtheallurementsofyoungerdays。
Themendidnotshareinthedance，butsquattedupontherocksingreatnumberstoadmirethemusic，andtowitnesstheeffortsoftheirwivesanddaughters。
ThemenofShooliandFatikoarethebestproportionedthatIhaveseen；
withouttheextremeheightoftheShillooksorDinkas，theyaremuscularandwellknit，andgenerallytheirfacesarehandsome。
Thewomenwereinclinedtoashortstature，butwereverystrongandcompact。Itwassingular，thatthroughoutthegreatShoolicountry，ofwhichFatikoissimplyadistrict，whilethewomenareperfectlynaked，themenarepartiallyclothedwiththeskinofanantelope，slungacrosstheshoulders，andcoveringthelowerpartofthebodylifeascarf。InothercountriesthatIhadpassed，themenwerequitenaked，whilethewomenweremoreorlesscovered。
Afterthedance，Iwasvisitedbyseveralnativeswhohadknownmeinformeryears，amongwhomwasmyoldguide，Gimoro，whohadfirstledmetoUnyoro。AnotherexcellentmannamedShoelinowgavemealltheintelligenceofthecountry。BoththesemenspokeArabic。
Itwasarepetitionoftheoldstory。Thecountrywashalf-ruinedbytheactsofAbouSaood’speople。Thenativeswereafraidtoresisttheminthisneighbourhood，aseveryadjacentcountryhadbeenplundered，andthewomenandchildrencarriedoff。AbouSaoodhadnotexpectedthatI
couldleaveGondokoro；buthehadtoldtheShoolinativestoattackmeifIshouldarrive；thusonthedayofmyappearance，thenatives，beingignorantofmypresence，hadconsideredthedreadedPachamustbeanenemy，untiltheyhadrecognizedmywifeandmyselfastheiroldfriends。
Uponthatday，whenIhadobservedthenativesrunningtoandfrowithspearsandshields，AbouSaoodhadtoldthemtoresistmeatonce，andhehadpromisedthathispeopleshouldassisttheFatikos；butwhenthenativessawourpowerfulforce，theyhadknownthatanattackwouldbeuseless；theyhadaccordinglysentmentodiscoverourintentions，andthesemessengershadreportedmyreturntotheircountryinthecapacityofPachacommandingtheexpedition。
Myoldfriendsnowassuredme，inreplytomyexplanationoftheKhedive’sintentions，thatthewholecountrywouldrallyaroundagoodgovernment，andallthatthepoorpeopledesiredwasprotectionandjustice。Thefactofmyreturnwouldgiveconfidencethroughoutthecountry；andthenewshadalreadybeencarriedtothegreatsheik，RotJarma，whohadnevervisitedAbouSaoodorhispeople，butwhowouldquicklytenderhisallegiancetomeastherepresentativeoftheKhedive。
ItoldGimoroandShoolitoinformtheheadmen，andthepeoplegenerallythroughoutthecountry，ofmypacificintentions，andtohavenofearnowthatthegovernmentwasrepresented，asitwouldbeimpossiblethattheatrocitiescommittedbytheslave-huntersofAbouSaoodshouldrecur。AtthesametimeIexplained，thatinabouttwentydaysthecontractenteredintobetweenAgadandCo。withtheSoudangovernmentwouldexpire，andAbouSaoodwouldbecompelledtowithdrawallhispeoplefromthecountry，whichwouldthenremainsolelyinthehandsoftheKhedive。
Throughoutthesubsequentexpedition，Icouldalwaysrelyuponthefidelityofthesetwomen，GimoroandShooli。
Aftertheirdeparturetospreadthegoodnewsfarandwide，Ihadalongconversationwithmyoldservant，Mohammed，whoIknewwouldgivemeeveryinformationrespectingtheactsofAbouSaoodandhispeople，ashehadbeenamongtheminthesepartsformanyyears。
HetoldmethatmyarrivalatFatikowassupposedtobeimprobable，astheGondokoronativeswereknowntobehostiletothegovernment；
thereforeitwouldbeimpossibletotransportthebaggage。AlthoughtheBariswereatwarwiththegovernment，AbouSaoodhadaboutseventyofthesenativesatFatiko，armedwithmuskets，inhisemploy；thushewasopenlyinleaguewiththeenemiesoftheKhedive’sgovernment。
ThereportamongtheslavecompaniesassertedthatAbouSaoodhadbeeninleaguewithRaoulBeytofrustratetheexpedition；thustheconspiracyoftheofficersheadedbyRaoufBey，whichIhadcheckmated，wasthegrandmovetoeffectacollapseoftheexpedition，andtoleaveaclearfieldfortheslave-traders。”Uptothepresenttime，myarrangementshavebeenabletooverpowerallopposition。”
ThesuccessofthecorncollectionatthemomentoftheconspiracywasfataltothemachinationsofRaoufBey，andsecuredmetheconfidenceofthetroops。”ThesuccessofeveryattackthatIhavepersonallycommandedhasclinchedthisconfidence。”Thetrader’speoplearediscontentedwiththeirleaders；theyarewithoutclothesorwages。”Theirpartieshavebeenmassacredinseveraldirectionsbythenatives。
Nearly500loadsofivoryhavebeenburned，togetherwithoneoftheirstations，byanightattackoftheMadi，inwhichtheslave-hunterslostthirty-fivekilled，andtherestofthepartyonlyescapedinthedarkness，andfledtotheforests。”ThusIcomeuponthematamomentwhentheyaredividedintheirfeelings。Adreadofthegovernmentismingledwithconfidenceinthearrivalofastrongmilitaryforce，whichwouldbeauxiliaryintheeventofageneraluprisingofthecountry。”
Ifoundseveralofmyoldmenengagedasslave-hunters。Thesepeople，whohadbehavedwellonmyformervoyage，confidedallthenews，andwerewillingtoservethegovernment。Kamrasi，theformerkingofUnyoro，wasdead，andhadbeensucceededbyhisson，KabbaRega。
SomefewofthepeopleofAbouSaoodhadbeenonavisittothekingM’teseatUganda。ThispowerfulrulerhadbeenmuchimprovedbyhispersonalcommunicationwiththetradersofZanzibar。HehadbecomeaMohammedan，andhadbuiltamosque。EvenhisviziersaidhisdailyprayerslikeagoodMussulman，andM’tesenolongermurderedhiswives。
Ifhecutthethroatofeithermanorbeast，itwasnowdoneinthenameofGod，andthekinghadbecomequitecivilized，accordingtothereportoftheArabenvoys。Hekeptclerkswhocouldcorrespond，byletters，inArabic，andhehadaregimentarmedwithathousandguns，inadditiontothenumerousforcesathiscommand。
TheArabenvoysofAbouSaoodhadbeentreatedlikedogsbythegreatM’tese，andtheyhadslunkbackabashed，andwereonlygladtobeallowedtodepart。Theydeclaredthatsuchacountrywouldnotsuittheirbusiness：thepeopleweretoostrongforthem；andthetradersfromZanzibarpurchasedtheirivoryfromM’tesewithcottonstuffs，silks，guns，andpowder，brass-coilbracelets，beads，&c。Thebeadswereexchangedbyequalweightforivory。”EvenatFatikothebrass-coilbraceletsfromZanzibararenowcommon。
SomeofAbouSaood’speopleareactuallydressedinManchestermanufacturesthathavearrivedviaZanzibaratUnyoro。ThisisaterribledisgracetotheSoudanauthorities；thustheZanzibartradersarepurchasingbylegitimatedealingivorythatshould，geographicallyspeaking，belongtoCairo。”Whilefairdealingistherulesouthoftheequator，piracyandruinaretheruleofthenorth。”AbouSaoodandhispeoplearenowinadilemma。Formanyyearstheyhavepillagedthecountry，andafterhavingtaughtthenativestoregardcowsastheonlymediumofexchangeforivory，theyhaveatlengthexhaustedthecattle。Thusthetransportoftheirlargestockofivoryhasforatimebecomeimpossible，assufficientcowscannotbecollectedforthepurpose。”EveryloadfromFatikotoIsmailiaGondokororequirestwocows；onetoLobore，andanotherthencetothejourney’send。”BytheNiletraders’arrangements，thecompaniesofAbouSaoodreceiveastheirperquisiteone-thirdofallthecattlethatmaybestoleninsuccessfulrazzias。”Theconsumptionofcattlebythesebrigandsisenormous。Allflourispurchasedinexchangeforflesh，whilefleshisalsonecessaryforfood；
thusthecowisbeingeatenatbothends。”Thefrightfuldrainuponthecountrymaybeimaginedbythefollowingcalculation，whichiscertainlybelowthetruth：——”If1，000loadsofivorymustbecarriedtoIsmailia，2，000cowsarerequiredaspaymentofcarriers；
Tocaptureinarazzia3，000cows，1000belongtothebrigandsastheirperquisite；
300arenecessarytofeedthenativecarriersandsoldiers_____duringthejourney；
3，300cowsarerequiredtodeliver1，000loadsofivoryadistanceof165miles，fromFatikotoIsmailiaGondokoro。
Astationof350menconsumesdaily……700lbs。
Inaddition，theyrequiretoexchangeforflour……350lbs。
Dailyconsumptionofflesh……1，050lbs。”Theoxenofthecountrydonotaveragemorethan170lbs。cleaned。
2，255beastsarethusrequiredannually——
5，555oxenarenecessarytofeedandpayforthetransportfromastationonly350strong；accordingtothecustomsofWhiteNilebrigandage。”Itmustberememberedthatatleastathousand，andsometimesdoublethatnumberofslaves，areprisonersineachstation。Allthesemustbefed。Thesameprincipleisadoptedintheexchangeoffleshforflour；
thustheexpenditureofcattleisfrightful。Notonlyoxen，butallthebreedingcowsandyoungcalvesarekilledwithouttheslightestreflection。Nocountrycansupportsuchwilfulwaste；thusaftermanyyearsofravage，thisbeautifulprovincehasbecomealmostbarrenofcattle。Thecentraldistrictsoccupiedbytheslave-tradershavingbeendenudedofcattle，ithasbecomenecessarytomakejourneystodistantcountries。”
Theslave-huntersofAbouSaoodhadrecentlysufferedaterribledefeat，atthehandsofthewarliketribeofUmiro，whichwasajustrewardforthehorribletreacheryoftheirparty。
AmannamedAliHusseinwasawell-knownemployeeofAbouSaood。ThisruffianwasanArab。Hewasatall，wiryfellow，withadeterminedbutbrutalcastofcountenance，whowascelebratedasascoundrelamongscoundrels。Evenhisfellowsdreadedhisbrutality。Therewasnocrimethathehadnotcommitted；andashisonlyvirtuewasextremedaring，hisreputationwasterribleamongthenativepopulation。