Government buildings in which they were located. I sent a
letter announcing my approach on the day before my arrival at
Fashoda. On the following morning, September 19, a reply was
brought to me from M. Marchand by a small rowing-boat carrying the
French flag. It stated that he had arrived at Fashoda on July 10,
having been instructed by his Government to occupy the
Bahr-el-Ghazal up to the confluence of the Bahr-el-Jebel, and also
the Shilluk country on the left bank of the White Nile as far as
Fashoda. It went on to say that he had concluded a treaty with the
Shilluk chiefs by which they placed the country under the
protection of France, and that he had sent this treaty to his
Government for ratification by way of Abyssinia, as well as by the
Bahr-el-Ghazal. He described his fight with the dervishes on
August 25, and stated that, in anticipation of a second and more
serious attack, he had sent his steamer south for reinforcements,
but that our arrival had prevented a further attack.

"When we arrived at Fashoda, M. Marchand and M. Germain came on
board our steamer, and I at once informed them that the presence
of a French party at Fashoda and in the Nile valley must be
considered as a direct infringement of the rights of Egypt and of
the British Government, and I protested in the strongest terms
against the occupation of Fashoda by M. Marchand and his party,
and the hoisting of the French flag in the dominions of his
Highness the Khedive. M. Marchand stated, in reply, that he had
received precise orders for the occupation of the country and the
hoisting of the French flag over the Government buildings at
Fashoda, and added that, without the orders of his Government,
which, however, he expected would not be delayed, it was
impossible for him to retire from the place. I then inquired of
him whether, in view of the fact that I was accompanied by a
superior force, he was prepared to resist the hoisting of the
Egyptian flag at Fashoda. He hesitated, and replied that he could
not resist. The Egyptian flag was then hoisted, about 500 yards
south of the French flag, on a ruined bastion of the old Egyptian
fortifications, commanding the only road which leads into the
interior from the French position. The latter is entirely
surrounded to the north by impassable marshes.

"Before