The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-22
A F RIGA.
Dir Samuel Baker and the Egyptian Slave Trade.

Baker, His Royal Highness feeling assured that
everything relating to the suppression OF the
slave trade will prove OF interest to the British
public. The letter Is dated lsmailia tGondok0rol,
Africa. n. lat SIS deg, August 20. 1871 After
giving an account of the preliminary arrangements
and mentioning the trouble he had with the
Egyptians, Sir Samuel Baker Says
arrived IN the Bahr Giraffe and soon met most
terrible obstacles. The entire country was marsh,
through which the river Moved by q sub-vegetal
passage. For thirtytwo days we cut canals through
this tangled vegetation, compressed into dense
masses from four feet 10 five feet thick. MY men
died in great numbers from constant exposure 70
malaria and to swarms OF mosquitoes that rendered
sleep Impossible. The season was too late, the
rams commenced; we, nevertheless, crept forward
so shallow that in some places the depth did
not exceed one foot. was forced 10 return, but
NOT wishing the KaartDamers 70 triumph no over
bank of the White ME. near the junction Of the
SODA. River about seven sew, hundred miles from
and commenced operations against the slave
trade. MY first capture was from the Egyptian
lsned 0stensiby dominate the river ana suppress
the slave trade In Said Pacnas time, but now
women and children released the slaves and re-
ported the Governor to the Viceroy. During my
stay OF seven monins az aewnkeezan stopped al
traders in irons. Thus, not slave passed down
the river In 1870.
made every preparation for surrounding the
difficulties OF the Bahr Giraffe In the ensuing season.
j made an exploration OF the White Nile obstruc.
tons to endeavor to discover new passage, but
without success, and 1 then went down 10 Khar-
tCum to personally superintend The arrangements
for reniOrcements In men, boats ana material.
Fifteen oil the smaller vessels had arrived from
Cairo. but none OF the steamers or arge-decked yes
sells. Alter much hard work got together NIFTY
nine vessels including large steamer OF 100 leet
length OF deck and thirty.two horse power. MY YES
sels averaged about thirty tons burden. and drew
was ready, and the 1irst division lett TewtkeeZah
on the LIST OF December 1870 followed at Intervals
by small divisions ito AVOID COLLISION until brought
up the rear with my dabeean lowed by the steamer,
on the IItn OF December.
The strong norGn wind had just commenced. We
quickly ahead OF the rear vessels and when 12O
miles up the Bahr Giraffe the steamer stopped TO
cut luel at forest. l determined to remain there
until all tle vessels should pass ahead, as feared
accidents from the heavy gales. shorty boat ar
rlued with the fatal news That vessel laden with
sections OF the lake steamers had sunk close to the
SObat River, III tue deep White Nile. Immediately
steamed back the 100 miles 10 the scene OF This terri
bic disaster, ana found portion vi the mast above
water had brought three vessels with me to assist
In saving Inc wreck, II possible After much hard
work, by emptylng three vessels OF their cargoes,
nearly to the gunwales secured them 10 the wreck
with CHAINS. Then, by throwing out the water, the
vessels lifted the wreck from the ground The
powerful current Increased the danger. but having
secured the wreck with anchors to the hooded bank.
j cut an incline In the mud. and then Shelf, upon
which the vessel could lie should we succeed IN haul
Ing her up
returned the released slaves to their homes; thus
the chief OF the tribe called his men together TO our
dred natives hauling on various ropes, together with
the assistance OF che steamers purchase-we drag.
sns sa wree1 " e unSade
recalked the leak, and took her In tow. This was
the first di1iculty or the voyage In few days our
steamer overlook the Meet, and We arrived at the
obstruction IN the Bahr Giraffe. Unfortunately, 1t
was the month OF the Ramadan; thus all soldiers
AND sailors were fasting during the day ana eating
all night or course no WORK was cone: therefore
j remained many days at the obstruction IN angry
/
Hignness by description OF the weary months
passed in cutting through miles OF vegetation and
shallow channels. For fifty miles there were such
distractions at intervals. the country Is vast
marsh. without single dry spot to the horizon;
twenty miles OF the Bahr GIrane. The river is
formed by the overflow OF the White Nile, which,
shallow channels which, ultimately uniting in lati-
tude AZ north, form deep river tine Bahr
junction for nty miles-there are inconceivaDle
difficulties. We were months employed In digging
channels through shadows In many places the
water was less than three eet, In some spots 1t was
under two feet; our vessels required four ieet For
tunately, had English spades and broad hoes In
hundreds, and slowly we dug canals and dragged
the neavy vessels forward.
had dismouned the paddles OF the steamer, but
ene gave great trouble owing to her length In the
enarp turns OF the river; sometimes 1000 men
dragged her bodily through the mud. always ex.
plOred the river some miles In advance IN small
rowing boat, In order 10 plan out the work for the
dinerent companies. The task appeared hopeless,
rs the falling rapidly aud water that was
I'VE feet deep on anead fell to three In lew weeks
delay.
Some months passed; men died daily. At length,
After dragging my little boat from sunrise till noon,
with fourteen men, over swamps and high grass,
reached nne lake. which, IN i've miles. took
me to the White Nile junction. The news gave
some courage to the troops, and after few days
hard labor the 1eet OF hitynine vessels assembled
In portion OF the river resembling long pOhd.
While engaged In cutting channel In advance TO
reach the lake, river accelerated by the cuttings
newly made in the rear ran from under US, anu left
the fleet hopeessly aground In water about two feet
Immediately commenced In the rear oil the neet and
tor TWO days loo men a were ere sS In
with SAND. We drove strong framework OF piles
across the river, and completed dam OF about 100
yards In length, which eecualy stopped the water.
The success was perfect; the river rose upwards
of two feet and the feet, lately helpless. now
two vessels taking the steamer In tow We passed
through the new channel TO the lake and shortly
reached the great White Nile. We oil felt thankful
inspected the neet, then remounted the steam.
er's PADDLES, and. with an extra vessel In low,
came on 10 Gondokoro, where we arrived on the
18TH OF April. The fleet arrived here on the 22d or
May; thus the expedition has been i've months and
twenty-five days In accomplishing distance OF
about seven hundred miles from the Sobah junction.
Formerly, when the White Nile was open, the
days
Tnank God, we are here with all the material Of
the expedition. have 1000 troops, all In good con-
Baker and nave, through all difficulties and Gil
mates, been In excellent health. Lieutenant J. A.
Baker, Royal Navy, and Mr. Higglnbotnam form the
European party, exclusive OF Six English mechan-
tcs took formal possession OF Gondokor0 In the
name OF Egypt hoisted the nag and saluted with
twenty-one guns, giving the name or lsmaia TO the
new station.
Upon my arrival In the Bari country met the
quasl1ostile reception that ! mad always expected
from these savages. The Bars were always the
worst tribe OF the White Nile, but they nave been
rendered hopelessly bad by long alliance with
the Save traders Gondokoro mas been a depot for
slaves and cattle plundered from the tribes OF the
interior and the Bars have fattened on the spoil:
MOI W. rnmo
government that en.orces law ana order | sum.
mOned q meeting OF the cnieis. There no head TO
the tribe, but eacn village mas It's little head man or
cLieL none OF whom nave any real authority. The
Bars quickly declared against nnexation Egypt,
and refused to acknowledge the Nceroy's AUTHORITY.
They also refused TO provide the troops with pro.
visions by sale or exchange. Thev attacked my
people and wounded two men with arrows.
1 at once declared war, and have already given
them several lessons, wnicn must show them that
the troops are very different from the irregular
Lands OF the traders My black troops are excel
lant 1 L could "a much for the EQY ntlans.