ismailia-第94章

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connected　with　the　Soudan　government　that　he　was　a　tenant　who　had　rented
a　country　WHICH　DID　NOT　BELONG　TO　EGYPT；　now　applied　to　that　government
for　protection　against　my　interference　with　his　murders；　kidnapping；　and
pillaging；　which　were　the　accompaniments　of　his　slave…hunting　in　Central
Africa。

The　fact　of　this　renowned　slave…hunter　having　the　audacity　to　appeal　to
the　Egyptian　authorities　for　assistance；　at　once　exhibits　the　confidence
that　the　slave…traders　felt　in　the　moral　support　of　certain　official
personages　who　represented　public　opinion　in　their　hatred　to　the
principal　object　of　the　expedition。

The　various　links　in　the　chain　which　united　the　interests　of　Abou　Saood
with　certain　officers　who　were　opposed　to　the　spirit　of　the　enterprise
will　be　at　once　perceived。

From　the　very　commencement；　this　man　had　been　the　chief　intriguer　who
had　endeavoured　to　ruin　the　expedition。　He　had　fraternized　with　the
Baris　when　they　were　at　open　war　with　the　government。　He　had　incited　the
tribes　to　attack　me；　and　at　length　his　own　companies　had　fired　at　me　by
his　orders。　HE　NOW　SOUGHT　THE　PROTECTION　OF　THE　EGYPTIAN　GOVERNMENT　AT
CAIRO。

We　shall　now　leave　Abou　Saood　in　Cairo；　where　he　spread　the　false　report
of　the　massacre　of　Lady　Baker　and　myself；　which　reached　England　and
appeared　in　the　newspapers　in　April　1873。

After　Abou　Saood's　departure　from　Fabbo；　the　influence　of　Wat…el…Mek
began　to　be　felt；　and　many　men　flocked　to　the　government　standard。
Nevertheless；　that　station　was　a　scene　of　anarchy。　The　slave…hunters
were　divided　among　themselves。　The　party　that　followed　Wat…el…Mek　were
nearly　all　Soudanis；　like　himself；　but　the　Arabs　were　split　up　into
companies；　each　of　which　had　elected　a　separate　leader。　This　dissension
was　exactly　what　I　desired；　and　I　played　the　game　accordingly。　As　I　have
before　stated；　I　wished　to　avoid　physical　force。

Ali　Genninar；　whom　I　had　engaged　at　Masindi；　was　an　excellent　fellow；
and　before　Abou　Saood　deserted　the　country；　he　had　been　the　first　man　to
arrive　at　Fatike　and　unite　with　the　government。　He　now　collected
sixty…five　men；　whom　I　at　once　enrolled；　and　having　given　them　their
government　flags；　I　started　them　off　without　delay　to　support　Rionga　in
Unyoro；　and　recalled　Abd…el…Kader　and　his　troops　to　Fatiko。　At　the　same
time　I　sent　Rionga　many　valuable　presents。

There　were　several　terrible　scoundrels　at　Fabbo；　among　whom　was
Salim…Wat…Howah；　who；　together　with　Lazim；　had　threatened　to　shoot　Major
Abdullah　in　his　own　camp　during　my　absence　in　Unyoro。

I　had　Lazim　in　irons　at　Fatiko；　but　Salim…Wat…Howah　had　escaped　on　the
day　of　attack。　This　man　Salim　was　the　head　of　the　greatest　villains　at
Fabbo；　and　he　and　his　band　of　about　one　hundred　men　daily　sallied　out　of
the　zareeba　and　plundered　and　burnt　the　neighbourhood　in　open　defiance
of　Wat…el…Mek。

When　these　ruffians　captured　women；　they　now　cut　their　throats　and　threw
them　into　the　Un…y…Ame　river；　explaining　to　the　natives　that　they　defied
me　to　〃liberate〃　them　when　their　throats　were　cut。

Every　day　the　natives　flocked　to　me　from　Fabbo　with　the　most　dreadful
tales　of　atrocities。

The　time　had　now　arrived　when　I　could　make　the　move　that　I　felt　sure
would　reduce　the　country　to　order。

The　slave…hunters　were　in　this　position。　I　had　sent　Ali　Germinar　with
sixty…five　men　to　Unyoro；　200　had　gone　off　with　Abou　Saood；　100
reprobates　clung　to　Salim…Wat…Howah；　and　the　remainder　were　true　to
Wat…el…Mek。

I　therefore　sent　a　message　to　Fabbo；　which　Wat…el…Mek　would　make　public
in　the　zareeba：　〃that；　having　received　daily　complaints　from　the　natives
of　outrages　committed　by　Salim…Wat…Howah　and　his　company；　it　was　my
intention　in　forty　eight　hours　to　visit　Fabbo　with　the　troops；　together
with　the　native　witnesses　to　the　outrages　complained　of。〃

I　ordered　〃all　those　men　who　had　enlisted　in　the　government　service；
together　with　all　others　who　were　true　to　the　Khedive；　to　retire　from
the　Fabbo　station　to　Faloro：　thus　Fabbo　alone　would　represent　the
malcontents。〃

I　felt　sure　that　the　dissension　which　had　existed　among　the　various
parties　would　now　break　out　anew；　and　that　Salim…Wat…Howah；　fearing　a
personal　visit　from　me；　would　follow　the　example　of　his　master；　Abou
Saood；　and　fly　from　the　country。

The　hint　that　I　had　given　respecting　the　retirement　of　the　loyal　people
to　Faloro；　so　that　Fabbo　would　represent　the　disloyal；　would　be
sufficient　warning　that　physical　force　was　intended；　should　other　means
fail。

The　day　upon　which　Wat…el…Mek　published　the　proclamation　was　one　of
general　consternation　in　Fabbo。

Wat…el…Mek　left　the　station　with　his　Soudanis。

Salim…Wat…Howah　and　his　men　suddenly　sprang　upon　the　vakeel；　Suleiman；
and　having　secured　him；　while　others　broke　open　the　powder…magazine；
they　possessed　themselves　of　three　cases　（1；500　rounds）　of
ball…cartridge；　together　with　the　flags　of　the　station。　With　this　prize
they　marched　out　of　the　zareeba　with　their　slaves；　who　carried　their
luggage；　and　took　the　road　towards　Latooka；　about　nine　days'　march
distant。

Without　firing　a　shot；　I　had　thus　won　the　game。　　All　the　bad　people　had
found　the　country　too　hot　for　them。　The　remaining　men　received
certificates；　and　raised　the　corps　of　irregulars　to　312　officers　and
men；　all　of　whom　were　nominally　under　Wat…el…Mek；　although　Ali　Genninar
held　a　separate　command　in　Unyoro。　I　now　strengthened　his　party　by　a
reinforcement。

From　this　date；　the　victory　was　gained；　and　I　could　only　thank　God　for
the　great　success　that　had　attended　all　my　efforts。　The　slave…hunting
was　now　at　an　end　throughout　an　immense　district；　as　the　slave…hunters
had　ceased　to　exist　south　of　Gondokoro。　Excepting　Unyoro；　the　days　of
bloodshed　were　past。　The　〃Forty　Thieves〃；　who　had　so　gallantly　stood　by
me　through　every　difficulty；　never　again　had　an　enemy　before　them。　I　was
devoutly　thankful　for　days　of　peace。　（All　readers　will　share　my　deep
regret；　that　since　my　departure　from　Central　Africa　this　gallant　body　of
men；　together　with　the　French　officer　in　command；　Monsieur　Linant　de
Bellefonds；　fell　victims　to　a　surprise　by　the　Baris　in　the　district　of
Moogi。　Colonel　Gordon；　who　was　engaged　in　towing　a　steamer　through　the
rapids；　had　sent　M。　Linant　de　Bellefonds　with　forty　sniders　to　make　a
reconnaissance　in　the　immediate　neighbourhood；　as　the　Moogi　natives　had
become　hostile。　The　force　was　supplied　with　thirty　rounds　of
ball…cartridge　in　their　pouches　together　with　two　boxes　（1000　rounds）　of
spare　ammunition。　Only　four　soldiers　escaped　to　tell　the　tale　of
destruction。）

My　task　was　now　full　of　pleasure　and　gratification。　I　had　established
perfect　confidence　among　the　natives　throughout　the　large　country　of
Shooli。　The　Lira　tribe　had　declared　their　allegiance；　and　we　had　friends
upon　all　sides。

I　had　as　usual　planted　gardens　at　Fatiko；　which　were　flourishing。　The
natives　no　longer　concealed　their　stores　of　corn；　but　dancing　and
rejoicing　had　taken　the　place　of　watchfulness　and　insecurity。

The　children　and　women　flocked　to　our　camp；　and　marketing　upon　a　large
scale　was　conducted　without　a　squabble。　The　two　good　men；　Shooli　and
Gimoro；　who　were　daily　visitors；　assured　me　that　there　was　only　one
feeling　throughout　the　country；　of　gratitude　and　good…will。　This　was　a
great　reward　to　me　for　the　many　difficulties　we　had　undergone；　but　now
that　the　calm　days　of　peace　had　arrived；　I　looked　back　with　keen　regret
upon　the　good　men　that　I　had　lost；　especially　to　the　memory　of　poor
Monsoor。　There　was　no　person　who　would　have　enjoyed　my　success　so　much
as　that　worthy　man。

It　is　now　time　to　speak　of　Suleiman　and　the　party　who　had　left　Masindi
on　23rd　May　with　the　post　for　Fatiko；　together　with　the　300　Unyoro
carriers　who　were　to　have　transported　Abdullah's　detachment　to　Foweera。

The　letter　（concealed　in　a　package）　that　I　had　sent　to　Eddrees；　with
orders　that　〃the　party　might　return　at　once　to　Fatiko　should　they
suspect　foul　play；〃　had　reached　them　before　they　had　crossed　the
Victoria　Nile。

Mohammed；　the　Cairo　dragoman；　had　strongly　suspected　treachery；　owing　to
the　unaccountable　tardiness　of　the　natives　in　pushing　straight　for
Fatiko。　Every　day　messengers　had　arrived　from　Masindi；　and　others　had
been　returned　in　reply　by　the　sheik　Pittia；　who　had　charge　of　the　300
Unyoro　carriers。

When　my　letter　had　been　received；　Mohammed　advised　Eddrees　to　return　at
once　to　Masindi；　but　the　latter；　finding　himself　about　fifty　miles　on
the　journey；　concluded　that　it　would　be　better　to　continue　the　march。

They　had　delayed　so　many　days　on　the　road；　that　the　stock　of　flour
intended　for　the　whole　journey　would　have　failed；　had　they　not　spared
their　supply；　and　fed　upon　potatoes　whenever　they　halted　near　cultivated
ground。

On　one　occasion；　a　number　of　their　men　had　as　usual　gone　off　to　forage；
and　were　employed　in　digging　sweet　potatoes；　when　they　were　suddenly
attacked　by　the　natives　concealed　in　the　high　grass；　and　eleven　men　were
speared；　five　of　my　troops；　and　six　of　the　irregulars。　Fortunately　some
of　these　men　had　fired　their　muskets　before　they　died；　and　the　reports
alarmed　the　remainder　of　the　party；　who　were　in　a　small　village。　There
was　not　a　native　to　be　seen；　but　the　drums　and　horns　were　sounding；　and
as　the　Victoria　Nile　was　close　at　hand；　they　considered　it　would　be
advisable　to　cross　the　river　before　the　natives　should　attack　them　in
force。

It　was　necessary　to　release　Suleiman；　who　was　secured　in　a　sheba。　This
man　had　been　committed　to　the　charge　of　Mohammed。　Before　Mohammed　cut
the　raw　hide　strip　which　secured　the　forked　pole；　he　made　Suleiman　swear
by　the　prophet　not　to　escape；　but　that　he　would　deliver　himself　up　to
Major　Abdullah　at　Fatiko。

The　party；　now　reduced　to　twenty…five　men；　immediately　started。　Upon
arrival　at　the　banks　of　the　river；　they　happened　to　come　suddenly　upon　a
native；　whom　they　seized。

They　soon　observed　a　canoe　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　in　which　were
two　men。　They　now　made　an　arrangement　for　the　capture　of　the　canoe；
which　was　to　them　a　case　of　life　or　death。

The　prisoner　was　dressed　in　the　usual　flowing　robe　of　bark…cloth。　His
hands　were　tied　behind　him；　and　one　of　the　party　who　could　speak　the
language　now　concealed　himself　behind　the　bark…cloth　robe；　and　holding
the　native　tightly　by　the　arms；　he　threatened　him　with　instant　death
unless　he　called　the　two　natives　in　the　canoe。

At　first　he　hesitated；　but　fearing　the　knife　at　his　back；　the　point　of
which　just　pricked　him　to　let　him　know　that　it　was　ready；　he　shouted　to
the　men　in　the　boat。

〃Say　you　have　a　number　of　plantains；　and　you　want　to　take　them　across
the　river；〃　whispered　his　invisible　prompter　from　behind。

The　natives　in　the　canoe　hesitated。　〃Say　you　will　give　them　each　a　bunch
of　plantains　if　they　will　ferry　you　over；〃　again　whispered　the　cunning
Arab。

The　canoe　now　pushed　off　from　the　bank；　and　paddled　towards　the
apparently　solitary　native。

The　irregulars　were　concealed　in　the　high　grass　close　to　the　bank；　and
as　the　canoe　touched　the　shore；　they　shot　the　two　natives　dead；　and
immediately　secured　it。

They　now　unlashed　the　arms　of　the　prisoner；　and　insisted　upon　his
paddling　the　canoe　across　the　river。　Two　journ