1 8 OPPOSITION OF TIIE EGYPTIAN A UTHORITIES. [chai\ i. 
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 
to work in earnest. I had taken the precaution to 
obtain an order upon the Treasury at Khartoum for 
what money I required, and as ready cash performs 
wonders in that country of credit and delay, I was 
within a few weeks ready to start. I engaged three 
vessels, including two large noggurs or sailing barges, 
and a good decked vessel with comfortable cabins, 
known by all Nile tourists as a diahbiah. 
The preparations for such a voyage are no trifles. 
I required forty-five armed men as escort, forty men as 
sailors, which, with servants, &c. raised my party to 
ninety-six. The voyage to Gondokoro, the navigable 
limit of the Nile, was reported to be from forty-five to 
fifty days from Khartoum, but provisions were neces¬ 
sary for four months, as the boatmen would return to 
Khartoum with the vessels, after landing me and my 
party. In the hope of meeting Speke and Grant’s 
