ismailia-第15章

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eight　inches　in　length。　Also　cotton　cloth；　known　as　grey　calico；
together　with　white　calico；　and　other　cheap　manufactures。　The　cotton
that　is　indigenous　to　the　country　is　short　in　staple；　but　it　grows
perfectly　wild。　The　Shillooks　are　very　industrious；　and　cultivate　large
quantities　of　dhurra　and　some　maize；　but　the　latter　is　only　used　to　eat
in　a　green　state；　roasted　on　the　ashes。　The　grain　of　maize　is　too　hard
to　grind　on　the　common　flat　millstones　of　the　natives；　thus　it　is　seldom
cultivated　in　any　portion　of　Central　Africa　on　an　extended　scale。　I　gave
some　good　Egyptian　cotton…seed　to　the　natives；　also　the　seed　of　various
European　vegetables。　Tobacco　was　in　great　demand　by　the　troops；　and　I
considered　the　quality　supplied　by　the　Shillooks　superior　to　that
cultivated　in　the　Soudan。

Although　the　camp　was　visited　by　hundreds　of　natives；　including　their
women；　daily；　there　were　seldom　any　quarrels　over　the　marketing；　and
when　a　disagreement　took　place　it　was　generally　the　fault　of　a　soldier；
who　took　something　on　credit；　and　pleaded　inability　to　pay。　I
administered　a　rough…and…ready　justice；　and　appointed　an　officer　to
superintend　the　bazaar　to　prevent　squabbles。

I　was　much　struck　with　the　honesty　of　the　natives；　who　appeared
thoroughly　to　appreciate　the　protection　afforded　them；　and　the　fair
dealing　insisted　upon　on　the　part　of　the　troops。　The　river　was　about　700
yards　wide；　but　the　land　on　the　west　shore　was　only　a　large　island；
through　which　several　small　streams　cut　deep　channels。　This　island　was
separated　from　the　main　western　shore　by　a　branch　of　the　White　Nile。　The
west　bank　was　thickly　lined　with　villages　for　about　200　miles　of　river
frontage　throughout　the　Shillook　country；　thus　affording　admirable
opportunities　for　direct　trade　with　vessels　from　Khartoum。　It　was　a
tedious　journey　for　the　natives　to　visit　us　daily；　as　they　had　to　cross
first　their　western　branch　of　the　Nile；　then　to　carry　their　canoes
across　the　island　for　about　a　mile；　and　again　to　cross　the　main　river　to
arrive　at　our　camp。　The　Shillook　canoe　has　often　been　described。　It　is
formed　of　long　pieces　of　the　ambatch…wood；　which　is　lighter　than　cork。
These　curious　trees；　which　grow　in　the　swamps　of　the　White　Nile；　are
thick　at　the　base；　and　taper　to　a　point；　thus　a　number　are　lashed
securely　together；　and　the　points　are　tied　tightly　with　cord；　so　as　to
form　a　bow。　These　canoes　or　rafts　generally　convey　two　persons；　and　they
are　especially　adapted　for　the　marshy　navigation　of　the　river；　as　they
can　be　carried　on　the　head　without　difficulty；　when　it　may　be　necessary
to　cross　an　island　or　morass。

Our　native　traders　arrived　daily　in　fleets　of　ambatch　canoes　from　a
considerable　distance。　The　soldiers　trusted　them　with　their　rations　of
corn　to　grind；　rather　than　take　the　trouble　to　prepare　it　themselves。
The　natives　took　the　corn　to　their　homes；　and　invariably　returned　with
the　honest　complement　of　flour。　I　never　had　a　complaint　brought　before
me　of　dishonesty　when　a　Shillook　had　been　trusted。　I　have　great　hopes　of
these　people；　they　simply　require　all　assurance　of　good　faith　and
protection　to　become　a　valuable　race。

From　the　Shillook　country　to　Khartoum　the　river　is　superb　and　can　be
navigated　at　all　seasons。　The　northern　end　of　this　country　is　rich　in
forests　of　the　Acacia　Arabica　（Soont）；　a　wood　that　is　invaluable　as　fuel
for　steamers；　and　is　the　only　really　durable　wood　for　ship…building　in
the　Soudan。　The　rains　begin　in　May；　and　are　regular　throughout　four
months；　thus　cotton　may　be　cultivated　without　the　expense　of　artificial
irrigation；　at　the　same　time　the　dry　summer　offers　an　inestimable
advantage　for　gathering　the　crop。

The　Dinka　country　on　the　east　bank　would　have　been　of　equal　value；　but；
as　I　have　already　described；　it　has　been　depopulated。

There　was　an　old　blind　sheik　who　frequently　visited　us　from　the　other
side；　and　this　poor　old　fellow　came　to　an　untimely　end　when　returning
one　day　with　his　son　from　marketing　at　Tewfikeeyah。　I　was　walking　on　the
quay；　when　I　heard　a　great　commotion；　and　I　saw　a　splashing　in　the
river；　the　surface　of　which　was　covered　with　the　ambatch　fragments　of　a
native　canoe。　There　were　many　canoes　on　the　river；　several　of　which
immediately　went　to　the　assistance　of　two　men　who　were　struggling　in　the
water。　A　hippopotamus　had　wantonly　charged　the　canoe；　and　seizing　it　in
his　mouth；　together　with　the　poor　old　blind　sheik　who　could　not　avoid
the　danger；　crunched　the　frail　boat　to　pieces；　and　so　crushed　and
lacerated　the　old　man　that；　although　he　was　rescued　by　his　comrades；　he
died　during　the　night。

As　peace　and　confidence　had　been　thoroughly　established　among　the
Shillooks；　I　determined　to　send　for　the　governor　of　Fashoda；　and　to
introduce　him　personally　to　the　old　king；　Quat　Kare；　whom　he　had
officially　reported　to　be　dead。　I　therefore　summoned　Quat　Kare；　and
having　informed　him　of　my　intention；　I　sent　the　steamer　to　Fashoda
（sixty…five　miles）；　and　invited　the　Koordi　to　pay　me　a　visit。

When　he　arrived；　I　received　him　beneath　the　tree　which　formed　my　divan；
and　after　a　preliminary　pipe　and　coffee；　we　proceeded　to　business。　I
told　him　that　he　must　have　been　in　error　when　he　reported　the　death　of
the　old　king；　as　I　had　proved　him　to　be　still　alive。　He　replied　that　he
did　not　believe　the　real　Quat　Kare　was　in　existence；　as　he　had　heard　on
the　best　authority　that　he　was　dead。　I　gave　an　order　to　an　aide…de…camp；
and　in　a　few　minutes　the　tall　and　stately　figure　of　the　old　king　was
seen　approaching；　accompanied　by　his　wives；　ministers；　and　a　crowd　of
most　orderly　retainers；　including　several　of　his　sons。　The　king　sat　down
upon　a　carpet　in　a　dignified　manner；　without　taking　the　slightest　notice
of　the　Koordi　governor。　His　two　wives　sat　down　by　him；　but　his　sons
stood　with　his　followers　a　few　yards　distant。

The　Koordi；　who　was　a　remarkably　handsome　old　man；　with　a　snow…white
beard；　sat　equally　unmoved；　smoking　the　long　chibook；　without　apparently
regarding　the　king　or　his　people。　The　chibook　is　a　most　useful
instrument　for　a　diplomat。　If　the　situation　is　difficult；　he　can　puff；
puff；　puff；　and　the　incorrigible　pipe　will　not　draw；　in　the　mean　time；
he　considers　a　reply。　At　length　the　pipe　draws；　a　cloud　of　smoke　issues
from　the　mouth。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　says　the　embarrassed　diplomat；
evidently　relieved　by　the　little　unreal　difficulty　with　his　pipe；　〃what
were　we　talking　about？〃　and　having　considered　his　reply；　he　is　ready　for
argument。　The　pipe　then　draws　leisurely；　the　smoke　ascends　in　steady
clouds；　while　he　listens　to　the　arguments　of　the　other　side。　There　is　no
necessity　for　a　too　sudden　reply。　Even　if　the　conversation　has　ceased；
the　pipe　may　be　calmly　smoked；　while　the　facts　of　the　case　are　arranged
in　the　owner's　mind　before　he　commits　himself　to　an　answer。

In　the　present　instance　nobody　spoke；　but　the　Koordi　governor　of　Fashoda
smoked　steadily。　Presently　Quat　Kare　fixed　his　eyes　upon　him　with　a
steady　and　determined　stare；　but　with　his　usual　immovable　features；　and
he　thus　silently　regarded　him　during　several　minutes。　〃Have　I　found
thee；　O　mine　enemy？〃　might　have　been　the　Shillook　king's　idea；　but　he
kept　silence。

How　long　this　tableau　vivant　would　have　continued　it　is　impossible　to
say；　therefore　I　proceeded　to　business　by　asking　the　governor　if　he　knew
Quat　Kare　by　sight？　He　only　replied　〃yes。〃

At　this　reply；　the　king；　without　altering　his　position　or　expression；
said；　〃Then　who　am　I？〃

The　Koordi　raised　his　eyes　for　the　first　time；　and　looked　at　Quat　Kare；
but　said　nothing；　he　only　puffedthe　pipe　did　not　seem　to　draw　well。　At
length　a　fair　volume　of　smoke　was　emitted；　and　the　Koordi　answered　by　a
question：　〃If　you　are　Quat　Kare；　why　did　you　hide　yourself？　why　did　you
not　present　yourself　before　me　at　Fashoda？　then　I　should　have　known　that
you　were　alive。〃

Quat　Kare　regarded　him　fixedly；　and　he　replied　slowly；　〃Where　are　all　my
cattle　that　you　stole？　where　are　the　women　and　children　that　you
kidnapped？　I　considered　that　if　you　took　my　cattle　and　captured　my
people；　you　might　probably　take　ME；　therefore　I　declined　the
opportunity。〃

The　Koordi　puffed　and　puffed　vigorously；　but　the　long　pipe　did　not　draw；
something　had　evidently　choked　the　tube。

It　would　be　tedious　to　describe　the　whole　dialogue；　but　there　was　no
question　that　the　old　Shillook　king　had　the　best　of　the　argument；
therefore；　after　a　long　discussion；　during　which　the　king　was
continually　prompted　by　his　favourite　wife；　in　excited　whispers　that
every　one　could　hear；　I　examined　both　the　governor　and　the　king　upon
various　points；　and　came　to　the　conclusion　that　the　governor　was　a　great
scoundrel；　and　the　king　a　very　cunning　fellow；　at　the　same　time　he　had
been　shamefully　treated。　The　Koordi　had　reported　him　as　dead；　and
obtained　a　firman　conferring　the　title　of　Sheik　of　the　Shillooks　upon　an
impostor；　who　had　been　a　brand　enemy　of　Quat　Kare。　Since　that　time　the
adherents　of　Quat　Kare　had　been　subject　to　constant　raids　and　pillage；
and　the　old　king　was　a　fugitive；　who；　if　caught　by　the　Koordi；　would
assuredly　have　been　quietly　put　OUT　OF　THE　WAY。＇*＇

＇*Footnote：　Eventually　the　old　king；　Quat　Kare；　was　imprisoned　at　
Fashoda；　　and　died　in　a　mysterious　manner。　There　are　no　coroners'　
inquests　in　Central　Africa。）

I　decided　that　the　affair　must　be　settled　in　the　following　manner：I
explained　that　I　had　no　jurisdiction　in　the　Shillook　country；　which　was
under　the　government　of　Ali　Bey；　the　Koordi；　but　as　I　held　the　positive
and　special　orders　of　the　Khedive　to　suppress　the　slave　trade；　I　had
been　compelled　to　interfere　and　to　release　those　captives　who　had　been
thus　shamelessly　kidnapped。

With　regard　to　the　general　pillage　of　the　country　instead　of　direct
taxation；　the　governor　would　explain　his　conduct　to　the　Khedive。

With　regard　to　the　false　report　of　Quat　Kare's　death；　there　could　be　no
doubt　that　the　firman　for　his　rival　Jangy　had　been　obtained　from　the
Khedive　under　false　pretences。

I　therefore　recommended　Quat　Kare　and　his　sons　to　go　direct　to　Khartoum；
and　plead　his　cause　at　the　divan　of　Djiaffer　Pacha；　who　was　the
governor…general　of　the　Soudan；　which　included　the　Shillook　country；
thus　the　whole　affair　was　within　his　jurisdiction。　I　also　explained　that
I　should　send　an　official　despatch　to　the　Khedive　of　Egypt；　and　also　to
Djiaffer　Pacha；　describing　the　general　state　of　the　Shillook　country　and
the　special　case　of　Quat　Kare；　with　a　direct　report　upon　the　kidnapping
of　slaves　by　the　government's　representative。

At　the　same　time；　I　assured　Quat　Kare　and　his　people　that　the　Khedive
had　only　one　object　in　forming　a　government：　this　was　to　protect　the
natives　and　to　develop　the　resources　of　the　country。　I　persuaded　the
Koordi　and　Quat　Kare　to　become　friends　and　at　once　to　declare　peace；
thus；　all　hostilities　having　ceased；　the　responsibility　for　further
disturbance　would　rest　with　him　who　should　recommence　a　breach　of　the
peace。

I　advised　the　Shillook　king　to　forget　the　past；　where　there　had
evidently　been　a　mistake；　and　he　should　trust　to　his　application　to
Djiaffer　Pacha；　who　would　speedily　give　him　justice。　The　Shillook　king
then　replied；　without　moving　a　muscle　of　his　features