26 OPPOSITION OF THE EGYPTIAN AUTHORITIES, [chap. i. 
try, and required a powerful force of well-armed men. 
For the traders there was no great difficulty, as they 
took the initiative in hostilities and had fixed camps 
as “ points d’appui,” but for an explorer there was no 
alternative but a direct forward march without any 
communications with the rear. I had but slight hope 
of success without assistance from the authorities in 
the shape of men accustomed to discipline; I accord¬ 
ingly wrote to the British consul at Alexandria, and 
requested him to apply for a few soldiers and boats 
to aid me in so difficult an enterprise. After some 
months’ delay, owing to the great distance from 
Khartoum, I received a reply, inclosing a letter from 
Ismael Pasha (the present Viceroy), the regent during 
the absence of Said Pasha, refusing the application. 
I confess to the enjoyment of a real difficulty. 
From the first I had observed that the Egyptian 
authorities did not wish to encourage English explo¬ 
rations of the slave-producing districts, as such exami¬ 
nations would be detrimental to the traffic, and would 
lead to reports to the European governments that, 
would ultimately prohibit the trade; it was perfectly 
clear that the utmost would be done to prevent my 
expedition from starting. This opposition gave a 
piquancy to the undertaking, and I resolved that 
nothing should thwart my plans. Accordingly I set 
