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

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.