ismailia-第42章

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they　mutiny　or　not。　I　shall　forward　the　officers'　letters　to　the
Khedive。〃

This　conspiracy　would　have　played　the　game　of　Abou　Saood；　and　he　would
have　revelled　in　his　success。　I　made　no　remarks　upon　the　conduct　of
Raouf　Bey；　but　the　chain　of　facts　will　speak　for　themselves。

For　the　first　half…hour　after　the　receipt　of　these　letters；　I　was
disgusted　through　every　bone。　It　appeared　as　though　all　hope　of　success
was　gone。　What　could　be　done　with　such　wretched　and　treacherous
material？

I　would　not　condescend　a　reply　to　the　letters　I　had　received。　I　rode　up
to　head…quarters；　Mr。　Higginbotham　was　ill；　as　were　also　some　of　the
Englishmen　and　Mr。　Marcopolo。　Nevertheless　all　were　unanimous　in　their
resolve　to　stand　by　the　expedition　at　any　risk。

I　sent　Lieutenant　Baker；　R。N。；　to　Raouf　Bey；　with　instructions　not　to
mention　the　letters；　but　to　convey　the　following　order：

〃Colonel　Raouf　Bey；　with　six　companies　of　troops；　to　be　under　arms　at　2
A。M。；　to　await　me　at　head…quarters。〃

Mr。　Higginbotham　had　the　entire　charge　of　the　vessels。　I　ordered　three
noggurs　to　be　prepared；　together　with　one　small　diahbeeah；　to　pass　the
troops　across　the　river　at　2　A。M。

All　troops　and　sailors　were　to　take　two　days'　provisions。　I　had
determined　to　push　straight　for　the　Bari　islands；　south　of　Regif　hill。
Should　I　be　able　to　procure　the　supply　of　corn　that　I　expected；　it　would
at　once　checkmate　the　conspiracy。

The　Baris　of　Regiaf　and　south　of　that　hill　had　been　allied　with　those
of　Belinian；　and　had　taken　charge　of　their　great　herds　during　the
month's　campaign　in　that　country。

We　started　punctually　at　the　time　appointed；　and　sailed　for　about　seven
miles　up　the　river；　which　at　this　season　could　be　navigated　without
difficulty。　We　now　crossed　over　to　the　west　bank；　and　the　wind　being
foul；　the　soldiers　turned　out　and　hauled　the　vessels　against　the　stream
by　tow…ropes。

The　country　was　perfectly　lovely。　The　high；　rocky　hills；　a　few　miles
distant；　sloped　in　beautiful　undulations　of　open；　park…like　land　to　the
river's　bank。　Here　and　there　fine　ornamental　trees　were　dotted　about　the
surface；　but　the　absence　of　forest　would　have　rendered　the　locality
unfit　for　a　large　station。

The　villages　were　innumerable：　but　there　was　not　a　sign　of　friendship
among　the　numerous　population。　The　natives　poured　out　of　their　various
stations　leaping；　brandishing　their　spears；　and　gesticulating　with
unmistakable　actions　of　hostility。

The　river　was　about　500　yards　wide；　and　in　several　places　the　dull；　grey
heads　of　rocks　protruded　from　the　surface。　We　therefore　continued　to　tow
the　vessels　close　to　the　bank；　with　a　party　marching　parallel　to　protect
the　flank　in　case　of　a　sudden　attack。

The　natives　evidently　intended　to　oppose　us。　I　always　gave　the　Baris　a
fair　chance；　and　allowed　them　to　make　the　first　hostile　move　before　I
proceeded　to　forcible　measures。　I　therefore　landed　and　advanced　a　few
hundred　paces　inland。　There　were　many　curious　rocks　in　this
neighbourhood；　some　of　which　were　clean　blocks　of　granite　in　masses　of
forty　or　fifty　feet　high；　piled　roughly　as　though　arranged　artificially。

The　natives；　as　we　advanced；　moved　gradually　towards　this　shelter；　in
which　they　squatted　until　we　arrived　within　a　hundred　and　twenty　paces。
My　interpreter　now　conversed　with　them；　saying　that　I　had　not　come　to
fight；　but　to　purchase　corn；　that　I　would　give　them　a　cow　for　each
googoo　full　of　unthrashed　dhurra：　this　was　the　usual　price　when　the
natives　traded　among　themselves。

In　reply　to　this　polite　assurance；　they　used　most　insulting　language；
and　said〃You　need　not　offer　us　your　cattle；　as　we　intend　to　take　them
by　force；　therefore；　be　off　to　Khartoum！〃

By　this　time　I　had　advanced　with　the　interpreter　to　within　a　hundred
yards　of　them。　They　were　completely　in　my　power；　but　I　resisted　the
temptation。　This　is　the　disadvantage　in　treating　with　savages。　I　always
afforded　them　every　opportunity　for　peaceful　arrangements；　and　returned
civil　replies　to　their　abusive　and　coarse　insults。　This　gave　them　the
advantage　of　selecting　their　own　convenience　for　an　attack。　A　hundred
times　I　have　had　them　in　my　grasp；　as　upon　this　occasion；　when　a
well…directed　volley　would　have　created　a　terrible　effect；　but　I　have
always　been　patient；　and　allowed　them　to　strike　the　first　blow。

I　now　explained　to　them　my　position。　I　gave　them　the　instance　of　their
friends　at　Belinian；　and　begged　them　to　avoid　a　similar　necessity。　I
must　have　corn。　Their　granaries　were　overflowing；　while　mine　were　empty。
I　had　many　thousand　cattle　in　addition　to　all　kinds　of　merchandise。　I
desired　fair　dealing；　which　would　give　satisfaction　to　all　parties。　They
simply　shouted　a　derisive　reply；　coupled　with　most　disgusting　and
insulting　language。

〃Won't　you　have　a　shot；　sir；　at　that　fellow　on　the　rock？〃　said　my
shadow；　Monsoor；　who　was　always　at　my　elbow。　I　declined　the　invitation；
to　the　great　disappointment　of　my　men；　at　the　same　time　I　explained　to
these　pig…headed　Baris　that　they　must　accept　the　consequences　of　their
conduct。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　assembly。

With　great　readiness　the　troops　left　the　vessels；　and　having　formed；
they　marched　up　the　slope　with　drums　and　bugles。　I　now　made　a　display　of
force；　and　once　more　addressed　the　natives；　explaining　that　the　men　were
hungry　and　would　take　their　corn　gratis　unless　they　would　agree　to　sell
a　portion。

The　natives　sullenly　withdrew　to　a　greater　distance；　and　commenced
blowing　their　whistles；　and　making　a　peculiar　shrill　cry　which　is　used
by　them　generally　in　derision　and　contempt　of　an　enemy。　The　last　words
we　distinguished　as　they　increased　their　distance；　were　a　threat　to
exterminate　us　during　the　night；　if　we　dared　to　remain　in　their　country。

It　appeared　hopeless　to　attempt　a　peaceful　communication　with　the　Baris。
This　portion　of　the　country　to　the　south　of　Regiaf　was　immensely
populous；　and　the　natives　were　more　dreaded　by　the　slave…traders　than
any　other。　I　now　determined　to　examine　some　of　the　villages。

Having　extended　the　men　in　line　so　as　to　cover　about　half　a　mile；　I
ordered　the　advance　towards　the　hill　of　Regiaf；　with　strict　orders　that
no　soldier　was　to　enter　a　hut；　but　they　were　simply　to　examine　the
villages　as　they　passed　through；　by　tapping　the　numerous　wicker　googoos
or　granaries　with　their　hands；　to　prove　whether　they　were　full；　These
neat　little　granaries　contained　generally　about　forty　bushels；　but　they
varied　in　size：　some　would　have　held　more　than　double　that　quantity。

The　natives　watched　us　in　considerable　numbers　from　all　points。　In　this
manner　we　examined　twenty　or　thirty　villages；　each　of　which　contained　at
least　fifteen　googoos；　nearly　all　of　which　were　quite　full　of　corn。　The
entire　country　was　overflowing　with　dhurra　and　sesame。　As　far　as　the　eye
could　reach　were　innumerable　villages；　all　of　which　we　knew　were　stores
of　abundance；　by　the　samples　we　had　already　examined。

From　the　high　land　of　Regiaf；　we　looked　down　upon　a　long　series　of　rich
islands　in　the　river；　that　appeared　to　be　nothing　but　a　line　of
granaries；　as　I　could　distinguish　with　the　telescope　the　numerous　clumps
of　googoos　and　small　villages　that　fringed　the　fertile　banks　of　these
welcome　retreats。

I　felt　as　the　Israelites；　when　the　manna　and　the　quails　appeared　in　the
desert。　Thank　God；　we　were　delivered　from　the　danger　of　famine；　and　we
had　at　length　arrived　at　the　Promised　Land。

Even　the　officers；　all　of　whom　had　signed　the　declaration　〃that　there
was　no　corn　in　the　country；　therefore　they　must　return　to　Khartoum；〃
looked　delighted；　and　exclaimed　〃Mashallah！〃

I　felt　the　relief；　for　I　had　suffered　much　anxiety；　but　outwardly　I　took
it　very　coolly；　and　quite　as　a　matter　of　course。　I　explained　to　the
officers　and　men；　that　of　course　they　were　ignorant　of　the　country；　but
that　if　they　relied　upon　me；　I　should　always　lead　them　（〃Inshallah！〃）
into　a　land　of　plenty。　The　black　officers　now　began　to　exclaim；
〃Wah…Illai！　the　Pacha　knows　the　country　well！　Who　would　have　believed
when　at　Gondokoro　that　there　was　corn　enough　for　a　couple　of　years
within　a　day's　march？〃

〃A　couple　of　years！〃　cried　another；　〃we　couldn't　eat　this　corn　in　ten
years！〃

〃We　might　drink　merissa　every　day　in　this　country；〃　exclaimed　others　of
the　soldiers。

Sailors　who　have　been　in　danger　of　shipwreck；　with　a　rocky　shore　close
on　the　lea　in　a　heavy　gale；　may　understand　the　relief　offered　by　a
sudden　shift　of　wind　in　the　moment　of　extremity。　Such　experience　alone
can　allow　an　appreciation　of　the　mental　reaction　after　a　great　strain　of
anxiety　that　I　had　suffered　for　some　time　past。

A　certain　knowledge　of　human　nature　determined　me　to　improve；　without　a
moment's　delay；　the　opportunity；　while　the　troops　were　under　the　first
impulse　of　astonishment　and　delight。

I　addressed　myself　to　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　in　particular；　and　to　the　line
generally；　and　explained　〃the　pleasure　that　I　felt　in　now　being　able　to
increase　their　rations　of　corn；　that　had　been　reduced　by　half。　At　the
same　time　I　had　been　much　dissatisfied　with　the　small　collection　they
had　made　from　the　harvest　at　Belinian。　I　knew　the　country；　and　this　was
the　only　true　granary　that　admitted　of　river　transport　to　Gondokoro。　If
they　neglected　this　opportunity；　the　rations　would　again　be　reduced；　but
upon　no　account　whatever　should　I　permit　the　return　to　Khartoum　of　any
officers　or　men；　except　those　who　could　present　a　medical　certificate　of
chronic　bad　health。　I　should　thus　get　rid　of　the　useless　mouths；　which
would　relieve　the　strong　men　from　the　work　of　gathering　corn　to　feed　the
weak；　who　could　not　perform　their　share　of　the　labour。〃

I　concluded　by　recommending　them　〃to　thank　God；　and　to　set　to　work　with
good　will。〃

I　marched　my　men　to　several　villages　deserted　by　their　inhabitants；
which　I　occupied　in　force；　and　anchored　the　vessels　close　to　the　bank
beneath　them。　Having　sent　for　Raouf　Bey；　I　made　no　other　remark；　than　to
give　the　orders　necessary　for　the　night。　This　melancholy　officer　looked
more　miserable　than　usual；　and　his　expression　reminded　me　of　one　of
Dante's　damned　souls；　as　illustrated　by　Gustave　Dore。

The　sun　sank；　and　I　had　not　tasted　food　for　twenty…four　hours。　I　was
without　my　wife；　therefore　I　was　not　very　particular；　my　good　Monsoor
having　foraged；　produced　some　pumpkin　soup；　as　he　termed　it；　which　was
composed　of　a　very　watery　pumpkin　boiled　in　water　without　salt。　The　next
dish　was　the　very　simple　native　luxury　of　dhurra　flour　boiled　into　a
thick　porridge。　I　was　very　hungry　and　very　happy；　thus　I　ate　the　plain
fare　with　a　good　appetite。

Monsoor　had　made　a　fire　with　dry　cattle…dung；　and　spread　a　native　mat　on
the　ground；　close　to　the　smoke；　upon　which　I　could　sleep　if　the
mosquitoes　would　allow　me。　I　lay　as　close　to　the　smoke　as　possible；　with
a　comfortable　log　of　wood　for　a　pillow；　and　pondered　over　the　events　of
the　day；　feeling　very　thankful　for　the　change　of　circumstances；　and
making　plans　for　the　morrow　until　I　fell　asleep。

No　sooner　had　the　bugles　sounded　the　morning　call；　than　I　was　up　and
off。　I　instructed　Raouf　Bey　to　take　a　company　of　troops　with　the
vessels；　and　occupy　the　islands。　At　the　same　time；　I　marched　through　the
cou