CHAP. III.] 
DECEPTION AND PLOT. 
79 
also an introduction, as they would be an addition to 
the force, which ig a great advantage in hostile coun¬ 
tries. Everything appeared to be in good train, but I 
little knew the duplicity of these Arab scoundrels. At 
the very moment that they were most friendly, they 
were plotting to deceive me, and to prevent me from 
entering the country. They knew, that should I pene¬ 
trate the interior, the ivory trade of the White Nile 
would be no longer a mystery, and that the atrocities 
of the slave trade would be exposed, and most likely 
be terminated by the intervention of European Powers; 
accordingly they combined to prevent my advance, and 
to overthrow my expedition completely. The whole of 
the men belonging to the various traders were deter¬ 
mined that no Englishman should penetrate into the 
country; accordingly they fraternised with my escort, 
and persuaded them that I was a Christian dog, that it 
was a disgrace for a Mahommedan to serve; that they 
would be starved in my service, as I would not allow 
them to steal cattle ; that they would have no slaves ; 
and that I should lead them—God knew where—to the 
sea, from whence Speke and Grant had started; that 
they had left Zanzibar with two hundred men, and 
had only arrived at Gondokoro with eighteen, thus the 
remainder must have been killed by the natives on the 
road; that if they followed me, and arrived at Zanzibar, 
I should find a ship waiting to take me to England, 
and I should leave them to die in a strange country.” 
Such were the reports circulated to prevent my men 
from accompanying me, and it was agreed that Ma- 
hommed should fix a day for our pretended start in 
company, but that he would in reality start a few days 
before the time appointed ; and that my men should 
mutiny, and join his party in cattle-stealing and slave¬ 
hunting. This was the substance of the plot thus 
carefully concocted. 
My men evinced a sullen demeanour, neglected all 
orders, and I plainly perceived a settled discontent 
upon their general expression. The donkeys and camels 
