ismailia-第11章

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vast　tract　of　alluvial　soil　through　which　we　have　passed。　There　is　not　a
stone　nor　even　a　small　pebble　for　a　distance　of　two　hundred　miles；　the
country　is　simple　mud。

〃April　9。Passed　the　old　channel　at　11。45　a。m。；　after　much　labour；　and
we　found　the　long　five…mile　cutting　pretty　clear；　with　the　exception　of
two　or　three　small　obstructions。　At　5。30　p。m。　we　reached　the　Bahr
Giraffe；　from　which　extremely　narrow　channel　we　had　first　commenced　our
difficult　work　of　cutting　through　many　miles　of　country。

〃Who　could　believe　the　change？　Some　evil　spirit　appears　to　rule　in　this
horrible　region　of　everlasting　swamp。　A　wave　of　the　demon's　wand；　and　an
incredible　change　appears！　The　narrow　and　choked　Bahr　Giraffe　has
disappeared；　instead　of　which　a　river　of　a　hundred　yards'　width　of　clear
running　water　meets　us　at　the　junction　of　our　cutting。　As　far　as　the　eye
can　reach　to　the　E。S。E。；　there　is　a　succession　of　large　open　sheets　of
water　where　a　few　days　ago　we　saw　nothing　but　a　boundless　plain　of　marsh
grass；　without　one　drop　of　water　visible。　These　sheets　of　water　mark　the
course　of　a　river；　but　each　lake　is　separated　by　a　dam　of　floating
vegetation。　The　volume　of　water　is　very　important；　and　a　stream　is
running　at　the　rate　of　three　miles　an　hour。　Nevertheless；　although　in
open　water；　we　now　find　ourselves　prisoners　in　a　species　of　lake；　as　we
are　completely　shut　in　by　a　serious　dam　of　dense　rafts　of　vegetation
that　have　been　borne　forward　and　tightly　compressed　by　the　great　force
of　this　new　river。　It　is　simply　ridiculous　to　suppose　that　this　river
can　ever　be　rendered　navigable。　One　or　two　vessels；　if　alone；　would　be
utterly　helpless；　and　might　be　entirely　destroyed　with　their　crews　by　a
sudden　change　that　would　break　up　the　country　and　inclose　them　in　a　trap
from　which　they　could　never　escape。

〃We　passed　the　night　at　anchor。　Many　hippopotami　are　snorting　and
splashing　in　the　new　lakes。

〃April　10。After　a　hard　day's　labour；　a　portion　of　the　fleet　succeeded
in　cutting　through　the　most　serious　dam；　and　we　descended　our　old　river
to　the　dubba；　or　dry　mound；　where　we　had　first　discovered　vestiges　of
the　traders。　The　No。　10　steamer　arrived　in　the　evening。　The　river　is
wider　than　when　we　last　saw　it；　but　is　much　obstructed　by　small　islands；
formed　of　rafts　of　vegetation　that　have　grounded　in　their　descent。　I
fear　we　may　find　the　river　choked　in　many　places　below　stream。　No
dependence　can　ever　be　placed　upon　this　accursed　river。　The　fabulous
Styx　must　be　a　sweet　rippling　brook；　compared　to　this　horrible　creation。
A　violent　wind　acting　upon　the　high　waving　plain　of　sugar…cane　grass　may
suddenly　create　a　change；　sometimes　islands　are　detached　by　the　gambols
of　a　herd　of　hippopotami；　whose　rude　rambles　during　the　night；　break
narrow　lanes　through　the　floating　plains　of　water…grass；　and　separate
large　masses　from　the　main　body。

〃The　water　being　pent　up　by　enormous　dams　of　vegetation；　mixed　with　mud
and　half…decayed　matter；　forms　a　chain　of　lakes　at　slightly…varying
levels。　The　sudden　breaking　of　one　dam　would　thus　cause　an　impetuous
rush　of　stream　that　might　tear　away　miles　of　country；　and　entirely
change　the　equilibrium　of　the　floating　masses。

〃April　11。I　sent　a　sailing　vessel　ahead　to　examine　the　river；　with
orders　that　she　should　dip　her　ensign　in　case　she　met　with　an
obstruction。　Thank　God；　all　is　clear。　I　therefore　ordered　the　steamers
to　remount　their　paddles。

〃We　started　at　10　p。m。

〃April　12。At　11。30　p。m。　we　met　five　of　Ghatta's　＇*＇　boats　bound　for　
the　White　Nile。　These　people　declared　their　intention　of　returning；　
when　they　heard　the　deplorable　account　of　the　river。

＇*Footnote：　one　of　the　principal　Khartoum　ivory　and　slave…traders＇

〃At　2　a。m。　we　arrived　at　our　old　position；　close　to　our　former　wood
station　in　the　forest。

〃April　13。Started　at　11。30　a。m。　The　river　has　fallen　three　feet　since
we　were　here；　and　the　country　is　now　dry。　Mr。　Baker　and　I　therefore
walked　a　portion　of　the　way　upon　the　banks　as　the　diahbeeah　slowly
descended　the　stream。　There　were　great　numbers　of　wild　fowl；　also
hippopotami；　and　being　provided　with　both　shot　guns　and　heavy　rifles　we
made　a　very　curious　bag　during　the　afternoon；　that　in　England　or
Scotland　would　have　been　difficult　to　carry　home；　we　shot　and　secured
two　hippopotami；　one　crocodile；　twenty…two　geese；　and　twenty　ducks。

〃At　7　p。m。　we　arrived　at　the　station　of　Kutchuk　Ali。　I　sent　for　the
vakeel；　or　agent；　commanding　the　company；　to　whom　I　thoroughly　explained
the　system　and　suppression　of　the　slave　trade。　He　seemed　very
incredulous　that　it　would　actually　be　enforced；　but　I　recommended　him
not　to　make　the　experiment　of　sending　cargoes　of　slaves　down　to
Khartoum；　as　he　had　done　in　previous　years。　He　appeared　to　be　very
confident　that　because　his　employer；　Kutchuk　Ali；　had　been　promoted　to
the　rank　of　sandjak；　with　the　command　of　a　government　expedition；　no
inquiry　would　be　made　concerning　the　acts　of　his　people。　No　greater
proof　could　be　given　of　the　insincerity　of　the　Soudan　authorities　in
professing　to　suppress　the　slave　trade；　than　the　fact　that　Djiaffer
Pacha；　the　governor…general　of　the　Soudan；　had　given　the　command　of　an
expedition　to　this　same　Kutchuk　Ali；　who　was　known　as　one　of　the
principal　slave…traders　of　the　White　Nile。

〃April　14。One　of　my　black　soldiers　deserted；　but　was　captured。　We　also
caught　a　sailor　who　had　deserted　to　the　slave…hunters　during　our　passage
up　the　river；　but　as　we　returned　unexpectedly　he　was　discovered。　The
colonel；　Raouf　Bey；　reported　this　morning　that　several　officers　and
soldiers　had　actually　purchased　slaves　to…day　from　Kutchuk　Ali's
station；　thus；　the　Khedive's　troops；　who　are　employed　under　my　command
to　suppress　the　slave　trade；　would　quickly　convert　the　expedition　into　a
slave　market。　I　at　once　ordered　the　slaves　to　be　returned；　and　issued
stringent　instructions　to　the　officers。

〃I　saw　this　afternoon　a　number　of　newly…captured　slave　women　and　girls
fetching　water　under　the　guard　of　a　scoundrel　with　a　loaded　musket。　I
know　that　the　station　is　full　of　slaves；　but　there　is　much　diplomacy
necessary；　and　at　present　I　do　not　intend　to　visit　their　camp。

〃April　15。To　prevent　further　desertions；　it　was　necessary　to　offer　an
example　to　the　troops。　I　therefore　condemned　the　deserter　who　was
captured　yesterday　to　be　shot　at　noon。

〃At　the　bugle　call；　the　troops　mustered　on　parade　in　full　uniform。　The
prisoner　in　irons　was　brought　forward　and　marched　round　the　hollow
square；　accompanied　by　muffled　drums。

〃The　sentence　having　been　declared；　after　a　short　address　to　the　men；
the　prisoner　was　led　out；　and　the　firing　party　advanced。　He　was　a　fine
young　man　of　about　twenty　years　of　age；　a　native　of　Pongo；　who　had　been
taken　as　a　slave；　and　had　become　a　soldier　against　his　will。

〃There　was　much　allowance　for　desertion　under　the　circumstances；　and　I
was　moved　by　the　manly　way　in　which　he　prepared　for　death。　He　cast　his
eye　around；　but　he　found　neither　sympathy　nor　friends　in　the　hard
features　of　the　officers　and　men。　The　slave…trader's　people　had　turned
out　in　great　numbers；　dressed　in　their　best　clothes；　to　enjoy　the　fun　of
a　military　execution。　The　firing　party　was　ready；　the　prisoner　knelt
down　with　his　back　towards　them；　at　about　five　paces　distant。　At　that
moment　he　turned　his　face　with　a　beseeching　expression　towards　me；　but
he　was　ordered　immediately　to　look　straight　before　him。

〃The　order；　'Present；'　was　given；　and　the　sharp　clicking　of　the　locks；
as　the　muskets　were　brought　on　full　cock　and　presented；　left　but　another
moment　。　。　。　。　。

〃At　that　instant　I　ordered　the　firing　party　to　retire；　and　I　summoned
the　prisoner；　who　was　brought　up　in　charge　of　the　guard。　In　the　presence
of　all　the　troops　I　then　explained　to　him　the　necessity　of　strict
discipline；　and　that　the　punishment　of　death　must　certainly　follow
desertion；　at　the　same　time　I　made　such　allowance　for　his　youth　and
ignorance　that　I　determined　to　reduce　the　punishment　to　that　of
flogging；　which　I　trusted　would　be　a　warning　to　him　and　all　others。　I
assured　him；　and　the　troops　generally；　that　although　I　should　never
flinch　from　administering　severe　punishment　when　necessary；　I　should　be
much　happier　in　rewarding　those　who　should　do　their　duty。　The　prisoner
was　flogged　and　kept　in　irons。　The　troops　formed　into　sections　of
companies　and　marched　past　with　band　playing；　each　company　cheering　as
they　passed　before　me；　but　the　crowd　of　slave…hunters　slunk　back　to
their　station；　disappointed　that　no　blood　had　been　spilt　for　their
amusement。＇*＇

＇Footnote：　It　was　satisfactory　to　me　that　this　young　man；　who　was
pardoned　and　punished　as　described；　became　one　of　the　best　and　most
thoroughly　trustworthy　soldiers　of　my　body…guard；　and　having　at　length
been　raised　to　the　rank　of　corporal；　he　was　at　the　close　of　the
expedition　promoted　to　that　of　sergeant。　His　name　was　Ferritch　Ajoke。＇

〃No　person　except　Lieutenant　Baker　and　the　colonel；　Raouf　Bey；　had　been
in　the　secret　that　I　HAD　NEVER　INTENDED　TO　SHOOT　THE　MAN。　I　had　merely
arranged　an　impressive　scene　as　a　coup　de　theatre；　that　I　trusted　might
benefit　the　MORALE　of　the　men。

〃We　were　now　in　the　fine　clear　stream　of　the　Bahr　Giraffe；　which；　having
received　numerous　affluents　from　the　marsh　regions；　was　united　in　one
volume。　We　got　up　steam　and　started　at　4。30　p。m。；　and　the　diahbeeah；
towed　by　the　steamer　down　stream；　travelled　at　about　nine　miles　an　hour
until　8　a。m。；　making　a　run　of　125　miles。

〃We　then　stopped　at　a　large　forest　on　the　west　bank　to　cut　wood　for　the
steamer。

〃April　16。Went　out　shooting　with　Mr。　Baker；　and　shot　two　Ellipsyprymna
antelopes。　The　country　is　beautiful；　but　game　is　scarce。　The　forest　is
much　broken　by　elephants；　which　appear　to　frequent　it　during　the　wet
season。　These　animals　are　very　useful　in　preparing　wood　for　the
steamers'　fires。　They　break　down　the　green　trees；　which　dry　and　become
good　fuel。　Were　it　not　for　the　elephants；　we　should　only　find　dead　wood；
which　is　nearly　all　either　hollow　or　rotten；　and　of　little　use　as
firewood。　Today　we　met　four　vessels　from　Khartoum　that　had　followed　me
with　a　reinforcement　of　one　company　of　troops；　with　letters　from
Djiaffer　Pacha　and　Mr。　Higginbotham。

〃April　17。We　steamed　about　thirty…seven　miles　and　then　halted　at　a
good　forest　to　fill　up　our　supply　of　wood。　The　forest　on　the　left　bank
is　about　thirty…seven　miles　in　length；　but　it　is　merely　a　few　hundred
yards　in　width；　beyond　which　the　country　is　prairie。　On　the　east　bank；
where　there　is　no　forest；　we　saw　giraffes；　buffaloes；　and　antelopes　in
considerable　numbers　during　the　day。

〃April　18。Filling　up　wood　in　the　morning。　We　then　travelled　three
hours；　and　halted　eleven　miles　from　the　White　Nile　junction。　During　the
voyage　we　saw　a　lion　and　lioness　with　five　cubs　running　off　alarmed　at
the　steamer。

〃In　the　afternoon　I　went　out　and　shot　seven　geese　and　two　fine　black
bucks。

〃Lieutenant　Baker　was　unfortunately　ill　with　fever。　Here　we　met　four
more　vessels　with　a　company　of　soldiers　from　Khartoum。　They　of　course
remained　with　us。

〃April　19：In　an　hour　and　a　half　we　arrived　at　the　White　Nile；　and
twenty　minutes　later　we　saw　three　vessels　belonging　to　the　mudir；　or