Those dim
tracts of swamp and forest in Central Africa were-- so he
declared-- to be 'opened up'; they were to receive the blessings
of civilisation, they were to become a source of eternal honour
to himself and Egypt. The slave-trade, which flourished there,
was to be put down; the savage inhabitants were to become
acquainted with freedom, justice, and prosperity. Incidentally, a
government monopoly in ivory was to be established, and the place
was to be made a paying concern. Ismail, hopelessly in debt to a
horde of European creditors, looked to Europe to support him in
his schemes. Europe, and, in particular, England, with her
passion for extraneous philanthropy, was not averse.
Sir Samuel Baker became the first Governor of Equatoria, and now
Gordon was to carry on the good work. In such circumstances it
was
only natural that Gordon should consider himself a special
instrument
in God's band. To put his disinterestedness beyond doubt, he
reduced his salary, which had been fixed at ?10,000, to ?2,000.
He
took over his new duties early in 1874, and it was not long
before he had a first hint of disillusionment. On his way up the
Nile, he was received in state at Khartoum by the Egyptian
Governor-- General of the Sudan, his immediate official superior.
The function ended in a prolonged banquet, followed by a mixed
ballet of soldiers and completely naked young women, who danced
in a circle, beat time with their feet, and accompanied their
gestures with a curious sound of clucking.
Pages:
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316