THE WHITE NILE TRADE. 
371 
of country or "preserve," like all other traders. 
" Latiffe's beat" " Petherick's beat/' " Koorshid Aga's,'* 
"De Malzac's," — all were known by these names, 
just as we know the " Black " or " Braemar " forests. 
A trader who attempted to go upon another's beat 
was considered a poacher, and a fight would certainly 
ensue if this etiquette were violated. Events taking 
place in these wide ranges of country are little known, 
as every party is a world to itself, and all are jealous 
of one another. But if the stories of " White Nile 
trade " be true, it is considered disreputable for any 
European to engage in it. The " Blue Nile trade/' 
on the other hand, is esteemed respectable; but here 
also there is some jealousy when a new competitor 
enters the field. The reports we heard at Faloro of 
Mahomed's men attacking villages by surrounding 
them at the hours of deepest slumber, and capturing 
their people and cattle, &c, were here confirmed to 
us, and these raids had taught the men of Gondokoro 
the most lawless habits and practices. Life was un- 
safe, guns loaded with bullets were constantly fired 
out of bravado close to our boats, the consequence of 
which was that fatal accidents occurred, and there 
was no government or police, and no river steamers to 
stop the slave-trade. Consul Petherick was looked 
on as an interloper ; he tried to put down this illicit 
traffic, but he was opposed by a clique, and his men 
saw no advantage in his service or that of any Euro- 
pean. They could not keep slaves, so there was great 
discontent. 
We saw with Koorshid a splendid and well-shaped 
old tusk, which weighed one hundred and thirty-five 
pounds, and which at Khartoom would fetch 114 
