ismailia-第53章

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guide。

The　horrible　state　of　the　White　Nile　had　prevented　all　possibility　of
conveying　camels　from　Khartoum。　My　carts　and　camel　harness　were
prepared；　but　the　invaluable　animals　could　not　be　transported。　I　was
thus　dependent　upon　such　rotten　reeds　as　native　promises。

No　one　who　is　inexperienced　in　African　travel　can　realize　the　hopeless
position　of　being　left　with　a　mass　of　material　without　any　possibility
of　transporting　it。

The　traveller　may　sit　upon　his　box　until　he　stiffens　into　a　monument　of
patience　and　despair；　but　the　box　will　not　move　without　a　carrier。　There
is　only　one　method　of　travelling　successfully；　and　this　necessitates　the
introduction　of　transport　animals；　where　the　baggage　is　heavy　and　upon
an　extensive　scale。

I　felt　perfectly　helpless。　My　colonel；　Abd…el…Kader；　advised　me　to　seize
the　sheik；　Bedden；　and　to　tie　him　up　until　his　people　should　have
delivered　all　the　effects　at　Lobore。

This　I　might　have　done；　but　it　might　also　have　occasioned　war；　which
would　prevent　the　possibility　of　securing　carriers。　I　should　also　incur
the　responsibility　of　having　provoked　the　war　by　an　act　which；　although
necessary；　could　hardly　be　justified　according　to　civilized　ideas。

I　had　very　little　hope；　but　I　had　so　frequently　seen　a　sudden　ray　of
good　fortune　when　all　had　looked　dark　and　cloudy；　that　I　went　to　bed　at
night　trusting　that　something　might　turn　up　in　our　favour　to…morrow。

On　29th　January；　1872；　Pittia　returned　with　bad　news。　Bedden　had　sent　me
a　laconic　message　that　〃he　should　not　call　again；　and　that　his　people
declined　to　carry　the　baggage。〃

Pittia　explained　that　the　natives　had　all　left　the　neighbourhood
together　with　their　sheik；　therefore　it　would　be　well　not　to　allow　the
soldiers　to　stray　far　from　camp。

This　was　the　gross　ingratitude　exhibited　by　Bedden　and　his　people。　Not
only　had　I　scrupulously　respected　all　their　property；　but　I　had　even
placed　sentries　over　their　tobacco　gardens　to　prevent　the　possibility　of
theft。

The　absence　of　the　women　and　children　had　been　a　certain　sign　of
ill…will。

It　was　necessary　to　consider　what　should　be　done。　We　were　perfectly
helpless。

I　had　about　2；500　head　of　cattle　and　1；800　sheep。　These　animals　were
driven　every　evening　to　the　margin　of　the　river；　and　were　only　protected
at　night　by　a　line　of　soldiers　who　slept　around　them。

The　conduct　of　the　natives　filled　me　with　suspicions。　The　sight　of　so
large　a　herd　without　protection　might　have　excited　their　cupidity。　They
had　expected　my　arrival　with　this　grand　supply　of　cattle；　and　instead　of
finding　their　villages　occupied；　I　had　observed　that　their　own　herds　had
been　driven　off　for　concealment；　not　a　woman　or　child　was　to　be　seen　in
the　country；　the　natives　had　refused　to　carry；　and；　lastly；　their　sheik
and　his　people　had　absolutely　absconded。

In　the　mean　time　my　cattle　were　unprotected　at　night；　thus；　should　the
natives　make　a　sudden　attack　in　the　darkness；　there　would　be　a　regular
stampede；　as　the　large　herd　would　be　seized　with　a　panic　at　the　red
flashes　of　the　muskets　during　the　attack；　and　they　would　scatter　all
over　the　country；　and　never　be　seen　again。

The　natives　had　probably　considered　that；　instead　of　carrying　our　loads；
and　thereby　earning　a　cow　per　man；　it　might　save　them　much　trouble
should　they　possess　themselves　of　our　cattle　without　the　necessity　of
carrying　the　baggage。

From　my　knowledge　of　the　brutal　character　of　all　Baris；　I　arrived　at　the
above　conclusion。

I　at　once　gave　orders　to　secure　the　cattle。　At　a　distance　of　about　half
a　mile；　there　were　three　small　villages　on　the　high　sloping　ground；
situated　about　eighty　yards　apart；　and　forming　a　triangle。　I　instructed
my　men　to　make　an　inclosure；　by　connecting　each　village　with　a　strong
hedge　of　thorns。

The　country　was　generally　bare　of　trees；　but　fortunately　there　was　a
grove　of　heglik　not　far　distant；　and　the　troops　at　once　began　to　fell
these　trees；　and　to　form　fences　by　laying　the　prickly　branches　in　the
position　I　had　selected。

The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　were　all　provided　with　small　and　sharp　Canada　axes；
which　they　carried　under　the　strap　of　their　knapsacks；　thus　forty…eight
axes　were　at　work；　in　addition　to　the　heavier　instruments　belonging　to
the　expedition。

All　the　officers　and　men　shared　my　suspicions；　and　they　worked　with
great　alacrity。

It　was　just　dark　by　the　time　that　the　three　fences　were　completed；　and
the　herd　of　cattle　were　driven　and　secured　within　the　inclosure。

I　arranged　a　guard　of　sixty　men：　twenty　upon　each　side　of　the　triangle。
They　were　to　remain　outside　the　fence；　and　to　keep　a　vigilant　look…out。

This　work　being　over；　I　returned　at　night　to　the　diahbeeah　together　with
Lieutenant　Baker。　We　found　dinner　ready　on　the　poop…deck；　where　my　wife
had　been　rather　anxiously　expecting　us。　I　sent　for　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；
and　gave　him　the　necessary　orders　for　the　night。

My　diahbeeah　was　a　charming　vessel；　that　had　originally　been　sent　from
Cairo　to　Khartoum；　when　the　former　Viceroy　of　Egypt；　Said　Pacha；　visited
the　Soudan。

The　poop…deck　was　lofty　and　very　spacious。　This　comfortable　boat　had
been　my　home　for　two　years；　and　she　was　kept　in　admirable　order。

There　were　no　mosquitoes　during　this　season　in　Bedden's　country；
although　they　were　very　numerous　at　all　seasons　at　Gondokoro；　therefore；
being　relieved　from　these　pests；　the　enjoyment　of　the　evening　was
delightful。

The　night　was　calm；　as　usual　in　these　latitudes。　Dinner　was　concluded。　I
was　enjoying　my　evening　chibouque　with　the　best　Ghebbelli　tobacco；　that
soothes　many　anxieties。　The　troops　were　for　the　most　part　asleep；　and
all　was　quiet。　My　wife　was　sitting　on　the　sofa　or　divan；　and　Lieutenant
Baker　had　been　recalling　some　reminiscence　of　the　navy；　when　several
musket　shots　in　the　direction　of　the　cattle　kraal　suddenly　startled
every　soldier　from　his　sleep。

The　shots　were　almost　immediately　succeeded　by　heavy　firing　from　the
whole　force　stationed　at　the　cattle　zareeba。　The　bugles　sounded　the
alarm；　and　every　man　was　quickly　under　arms。

Having　arranged　the　men　in　position　to　defend　the　vessels　in　case　of　a
general　attack；　I　took　twenty　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　together　with
a　supply　of　rockets。　I　was　accompanied　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　most　of
the　Englishmen；　and　we　pushed　rapidly　forward　towards　the　cattle
zareeba；　where　the　flashes　of　muskets　were　distinctly　visible。

As　we　approached　the　position；　I　ordered　my　bugler　to　sound　〃cease
firing；〃　as　I　expected　to　receive　a　few　bullets　intended　for　the　enemy。

We　were　quickly　challenged　upon　arrival　at　the　zareeba。　We　found　the
cattle　all　safe；　only　a　few　sheep　had　been　killed　by　the　heavy　attempt
at　a　stampede　when　the　cows　took　fright　at　the　musketry。

I　was　informed　that　the　natives　in　considerable　force　had　made　a　sudden
rush　upon　the　zareeba；　and　had　thrown　showers　of　stones　in　order　to
create　a　panic　among　the　cattle；　which　they　expected　would　break　through
the　fence　and　scatter　over　the　country。

It　was　fortunate　that　I　had　taken　the　precaution　of　securing　them。

I　was　determined　to　clear　the　neighbourhood　before　the　attack　should　be
renewed。　The　night　was　dark。　I　was　provided　with　matches　and　port…fires；
and　I　quickly　made　an　excursion　and　sent　several　rockets　into　the
nearest　villages。　The　Hale's　rockets；　as　usual；　rushed　through　the
houses　without　igniting　them；　but　a　few　of　the　powerful　Egyptian　rockets
that　are　used　as　fireworks；　rapidly　lighted　up　the　scene；　as　the
descending　fire…balls　ignited　the　thatched　roofs。

These　rockets　were　fired　from　an　inclined　rest　of　a　soldier's　fixed
bayonet。

Having　cleared　the　neighbourhood；　I　returned　to　the　diahbeeah　at
midnight。

I　find　this　entry　in　my　journal：…

〃January　29；　1872。…All　the　googoos　or　granaries　abound　with　corn。　The
natives　are　so　rich；　both　in　dhurra　and　cattle；　that　they　will　not　work；
but　they　are　only　ready　to　sleep　or　steal。　After　all　my　kindness；　they
have　wantonly　attacked　my　cattle　without　the　plea　either　of　hunger　or
provocation。

〃What　can　be　accomplished　with　such　people？　I　shall　be　obliged　to　return
the　steamer　to　Ismailia　（Gondokoro）。　It　is　heartbreaking　work　after　all
my　trouble　in　having　brought　her　to　this　distant　point。

〃Nothing　can　be　done　without　camels；　and　these　animals　cannot　be
brought　from　Khartoum　in　the　closed　state　of　the　river。

〃My　original　plan　included　200　camels；　200　cavalry；　and　fifteen　large
decked　sloops。　None　of　these　necessary　items　have　been　sent　from
Khartoum；　thus　I　am　paralyzed。〃

CHAPTER　XV。

THE　ADVANCE　TO　LOBORE。

I　determined　upon　a　new　plan。　I　knew　the　direction　of　Lobore；　as　I　had
been　there　during　my　former　expedition；　the　distance　could　not　exceed
sixty　miles。

If　the　soldiers　could　draw　the　carts；　I　might　yet　manage　to　advance；　as
I　should　be　able　to　procure　carriers　on　arrival　at　Lobore；　provided
always　that　the　natives　were　as　friendly　as　when　I　left　them　some　years
ago。

It　would　be　impossible　to　convey　the　steamer；　as　I　could　not　expect　to
provide　2；000　carriers；　but　I　might　be　able　to　penetrate　south；　suppress
the　slave…hunters；　establish　the　government；　and　open　up　a　legitimate
trade。

The　first　step　necessary　was　to　convey　the　large　herd　of　cattle　across
the　river；　which　was　about　400　yards　in　width；　with　a　very　rapid　stream。
I　fully　expected　that　we　should　be　attacked　by　the　natives　in　great
force　during　this　operation；　which　necessitated　a　division　of　my　force
upon　both　banks　of　the　Nile。

The　sheep　were　taken　across　in　vessels；　but　the　cows　were　obliged　to
swim。　This　passage　was　very　tedious；　as　the　animals　were　necessarily
taken　in　small　batches；　guided　by　men　who　swam　by　their　side　in　the
manner　already　described　at　Gondokoro。

Although　the　natives　were　avowedly　hostile；　they　dared　not　face　us　in
the　open。　They　made　another　attempt　by　night　to　surprise　the　cattle
kraal；　but　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader　immediately　set　fire　to　a　few　villages
as　a　response　and　warning。

We　were　occupied　four　days　in　passing　the　cattle　across　the　river。
During　the　passage；　we　lost　one　taken　by　a　crocodile；　and　three　cows
were　wantonly　seized　and　drowned　by　hippopotami。　A　herd　of　these
creatures　happened　to　be　in　the　way　as　the　cows　were　floating　in　large
numbers　down　the　stream；　and　several　were　seen　to　attack　the　cattle　and
seize　them　in　their　jaws。　As　the　hippopotamus　is　not　carnivorous；　this
was　an　unexpected　attack。

My　Englishmen　had　been　busily　engaged　in　erecting　the　carts；　greasing
the　wheels；　and　attaching　the　ropes　necessary　for　hauling。　They　were　all
loaded；　and　were　arranged　to　be　drawn　by　fifteen　men　each。

On　the　evening　of　the　5th　February；　while　we　were　at　dinner；　I　was
astonished　by　the　unexpected　mustering　of　my　whole　force；　excepting　the
〃Forty　Thieves。〃　The　men　were　without　arms　or　officers；　but　they　marched
to　the　margin　of　the　river　and　formed　a　line　two　deep　alongside　the
diahbeeah；　which　lay　close　against　the　bank。

I　knew　at　once　what　all　this　meant；　but　I　pretended　to　take　no　notice；
and　I　continued　eating　my　dinner。

I　was　quickly　interrupted　by　loud　cries　from　the　men。　〃We　can't　draw　the
carts！　that's　not　the　work　for　soldiers；　we'll　fight；　or　do　anything
else　you　may　desire；　but　we