SIR SAMUEL BAKER AND THE SLAVE TRADE 
3*9 
by Abou Saood, a crafty Arab, and one of Baker’s chief enemies. It 
was he who had instigated the attack of the Bari upon Baker’s troops. 
He now put on a smiling countenance and welcomed his visitor as 
though he was his dearest friend. But Baker was not deceived and 
laid his plans to set free all the slaves in the vicinity. 
He had not only the crafty Arab to deal with, but as crafty a 
negro, Abba Rega, the king of the province, whose professions of 
amity were followed by a treacherous assault upon the troops. Baker, 
however, was equal to the occasion. He formally annexed the region 
as Egyptian territory, and took active measures to break up the slave 
trade in that quarter. As for Abba Rega, his succession of attacks 
led to the destruction of his town and all the villages of the district. 
Baker now set out for the capital of Rionga, a friendly African 
king, with whom he performed the ceremony of blood brotherhood 
and whom he found a valuable aid. 
One further hostile movement he had to deal with, an attack on 
the camp of Abdullah, one of his subordinate officers, fomented by 
Abou Saood. Baker, learning of the assault, hurried from Rionga’s 
capital to Abdullah’s assistance. He found that the attack was led by 
Wat-el-Mek, in command of his irregular forces, whom the Arab had 
induced to mutiny. This was the last attempt to destroy Baker’s 
forces. His victory proved the death-blow of the slave traffic in that 
region. From that time peace reigned, the natives were secure in 
their homes and the future looked bright for the native Africans. 
