Juba Expedition. 157 resources. In this month, parties were sent out to levy taxes in the shape of cattle on the hostile tribes, which, had a salutary effect in keeping them quiet.

Daring Gordon's absence, the Shilluk tribes in the neighbourhood of Fashoda rose in rebellion against the oppression of the Government, and, had it not been for the presence of Gessi there at the time, Fashoda would Gessi Pasha, probably have been lost. Gessi was an Italian adventurer of great force of character ; he joined Gordon's staff in the summer of 1874, having, during the Crimean war, acted as interpreter to British troops.

The steamer reached Lahore in December, great difficulties having been met with in getting the boats conveying it up the rapids.

Juba River Expedition, 1875.

In the autumn of 1875 the Khedive, having long had The Juba under consideration the advantage of opening up a line Expedition of communication from the Indian Ocean to the central 1875.

provinces, sent out what is known as the Juba River Expedition. The command was given to McKillop Pasha (an English naval officer who died in 1879), and he was accompanied by Colonels Ward and Long, the former to survey the harbours along the coast and the latter to command an inland expedition. Colonel Gordon was to co-operate from the direction of Victoria Nyanza.

The anchorage at the mouth of the Juba River having been found inferior, the Expedition ran several miles further south to Port Durnford, and the harbour of Kismayu ; but here they encroached on the territory of the Sultan of Zanzibar. Several interests now clashed with the success of the enterprise. The British Government were bound more or less to the Sultan by treaties concerning the slave trade. The merchants of Zanzibar became alarmed for their equatorial trade, and the people of Aden for their supplies from the Somalis, who had been independent till Egypt had acquired a portion of their territory and levied taxes at their ports. The result was that, at the instance of Great Britain, the Egyptian Expedition was given up, but, on the other hand, the Khedive's authority along the coast, as far as about the 10th degree of north latitude, was tacitly acknowledged.