ismailia-第22章

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Ramadan　fast；　and　the　first　of　the　Bairam；　therefore　it　is　kept　as　a
holiday。　All　my　people　have　turned　out　in　new　clothes。

〃December　25。Christmas　Day。　Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　65　degrees。　We　began
work　at　the　sunken　vessel。　By　filling　the　barges　with　water　and　sinking
them　within　a　foot　of　the　surface；　and　then　securing　them　by　chains　to
the　wreck；　we　obtained　a　firm　hold。　The　water　having　been　baled　out　of
the　barges；　they　gradually　rose　and　lifted　the　vessel　several　feet。
Having　thus　raised　her；　we　hauled　her　a　few　feet　nearer　the　bank；　and
the　day's　work　concluded　by　proving　that　with　care　and　additional　force
we　shall　be　able　to　manage　her。

〃December　26。We　continued　the　same　operations　as　those　of　yesterday。
Having　lashed　the　masts　of　the　barges　transversely　across　the　gun…wales；
to　these　we　attached　chains　secured　by　divers　beneath　the　bottom　of　the
wreck。　This　was　not　possible　yesterday　until　we　had　lifted　her　from　the
ground。　At　the　same　time　that　we　were　thus　engaged；　the　men；　by　diving；
secured　ropes　to　the　heavier　pieces　of　iron　sections；　and　we　saved
several　tons　of　her　cargo；　which　we　placed　upon　the　steamer　and　upon　my
diahbeeah。　This　lightened　the　wreck；　and　we　then　prepared　a　bed　for　her
by　cutting　away　the　abrupt　bank；　and　forming　a　shelf　on　the　flooded
shore　in　a　depth　of　three　feet　of　water；　upon　which　we　might　be　able　to
haul　her　when　floated　to　the　surface。　We　laid　out　the　steamer's　purchase
with　an　anchor　secured　upon　the　shore；　and　the　day　ended　successfully　by
hauling　the　wreck　exactly　parallel　to　the　bank；　with　her　stem　and
stern…post　above　the　surface。　As　the　current　was　very　powerful；　the　bow
of　the　wreck　had　throughout　the　operation　been　firmly　secured　by　two
anchors　laid　out　up　stream。　It　is　very　hard　work；　as　we　are　in　the　sun
from　early　morning　till　night。　Julian　（Lieutenant　Baker）；　being　a
sailor；　is　just　the　fellow　for　this　sort　of　work；　and　no　other　person
knows　how　to　make　fast　the　ropes　and　chains　so　that　they　shall　not　slip。
Higginbotham；　as　usual；　is　very　energetic。　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　who　is
my　only　reliable　Egyptian　officer；　has　been　diving　all　day　like　a　wild
duck；　and　bringing　up　heavy　boxes　of　rivets　which　few　men　but　himself
can　lift。　Altogether　the　men　have　worked　famously；　especially　the　black
soldiers。

〃December　27。Julian　is　laid　up　with　fever　to…day；　this　is　the　effect
of　daily　exposure　to　the　sun。　I　laid　out　the　steamer's　second　purchase
at　right　angles　fastened　to　the　bow　of　the　wreck；　we　thus　had　her　bow
and　stern　secured　in　the　same　manner。　Having　manned　both　purchases；　we
could　manage　her　as　she　became　lighter。　About　250　Shillooks　came　to
assist　us　under　the　command　of　old　Quat　Kare；　who　sat　in　his　canoe　and
directed　his　people。　Having　lightened　the　vessel　by　taking　out　more
cargo；　I　divided　the　labour；　Higginbotham　sinking　two　kyassas　and　making
them　fast　as　lifters；　while　other　men　cut　away　the　flooded　bank　with
spades　and　improved　the　shelf。

〃After　breakfast；　the　sunken　kyassas　being　well…secured　to　the　wreck
with　chains；　we　baled　them　out　for　the　last　time；　and　the　vessel　thus
supported　came　bodily　to　the　surface。　All　hands　now　hauled　on　the
purchases；　while　the　Shillooks；　with　screams　and　yells；　tugged　at　four
ropes　fastened　amidships；　and　we　succeeded　in　dragging　the　vessel　from
the　river's　bed；　and　placing　her　upon　the　new　shelf　that　we　had　prepared
for　her　in　little　more　than　three　feet　of　water。　During　this　time　many
men　had　been　baling　out　with　large　buckets；　and　now　that　she　was　safe；　a
general　rush　was　made　on　board　to　empty　the　water　with　every　conceivable
utensilgourd…shells；　basins；　cooking　pots；　&c。

〃When　baled　out；　we　discovered　and　stopped　the　leaks；　and　floated　her。
She　was　one　of　the　largest　and　finest　vessels　of　the　fleet；　perfectly
new；　and　was　laden　with　steamer　sections　and　machinery；　the　loss　of
which　would　have　been　fatal　to　the　object　of　the　expedition。

〃I　ran　a　flag　up　the　mast　as　a　signal　to　those　at　the　station　that　she
was　safe。　I　then　ordered　the　steamer　to　light　her　fires；　and　the　wreck；
together　with　the　two　kyassas　and　my　diahbeeah；　were　taken　in　tow；　and
delivered　at　the　bank　that　we　had　made　our　head…quarters。　Thus　we　have
happily　saved　the　vessel　and　cargo　that　had　been　so　disgracefully
abandoned；　when　a　large　force　was　at　hand　to　have　assisted　her。

〃During　the　morning；　a　vessel　arrived　from　Khartoum；　laden　with　goods　on
speculation；　from　a　French　trader　of　my　acquaintance；　Monsieur　Jules
Poncet。　She　also　brought　the　section　of　the　lifeboat　which　my　officers
had　neglected　on　the　wreck；　and　which　the　governor　had　taken　to　Fashoda。

〃December　28。I　sent　the　steamer　to　Fashoda　for　the　sail　and　yard　of
the　wrecked　vessel。　All　hands　are　engaged　in　caulking　ship；　re…hoisting
yards；　rigging；　&c。；　and　refitting。　Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　66　degrees；
noon；　81　degrees。

〃December　29。…Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　66　degrees；　noon；　81　degrees。　Julian
and　Higginbotham　both　ill　with　fever。　Vessels　progressing。

〃December　30。I　shot　a　water…buck　at　daybreak　（Redunca　Ellipsyprimna）。
Yesterday　evening；　Quat　Kare　and　his　two　favourite　wives　came　to　take
leave。　I　gave　him　a　musical　box　and　a　meerschaum　pipe；　with　a　lovely
woman's　face　carved　on　the　bowl。　He　was　very　much　amused　with　the　idea
of　the　smoke　issuing　from　the　head。　I　also　gave　his　wives　some　grey
calico；　red　handkerchiefs；　and　gaudy　ear…rings。　They　went　away
delighted。

〃At　9　P。M。；　the　steamer's　boat　came　up　to　report　her　arrival　at
Tewfikeeyah。　I　immediately　sent　off　a　kyassa　to　join　her　for　a　cargo　of
wood。

〃December　31。The　steamer　arrived　with　the　kyassa　in　tow　at　11　A。M。；
with　an　immense　supply　of　wood；　together　with　ten　oxen　and　ten　sheep
from　Fashoda。　The　wreck　will　be　taken　in　tow　by　the　steamer；　as　her　yard
was　taken　on　the　day　of　the　accident　by　Colonel　Tayib　Agha。　She　is　now
the　most　valuable　vessel　in　the　fleet。　The　new　year　1871　commences　well。

〃January　1st；　1871。At　1。30　P。M。；　I　started　the　kyassas；　having　kept
back　twenty　men　from　their　complement　of　troops　to　man　the　vessel　we
have　saved。　Abdullah；　the　Shillook；　came；　and　I　gave　him　an　order　to
receive　half　the　corn　that　I　left　at　Tewfikeeyah。　This　is　a　reward　for
Quat　Kare；　for　having　assisted　to　raise　the　sunken　vessel　with　his
people。　The　extraordinary　rise　in　the　river　this　season　has　destroyed　a
large　portion　of　the　Shillook　crops；　therefore　the　present　of　corn　will
be　most　acceptable　to　the　old　king。

〃January　2。At　8。35　A。M。；　we　started　in　tow　of　the　steamer。　Wind　fresh
from　the　north。　At　2。40　P。M。　we　passed　the　second　of　the　three　noggurs
that　sailed　yesterday；　and　at　3　P。M。　we　passed　the　third　exactly　at　the
Giraffe　junction。　We　have　thus　been　six　hours　and　twenty…five　minutes
from　the　Sobat　to　the　Giraffe　junction。　Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　66　degrees；
noon；　86　degrees。

〃January　3。Last　midnight　stopped　at　a　forest　cutting　wood；　we　started
at　3。50　P。M。　One　of　the　rear　boats　came　in　sight　at　11　A。M。；　which
reached　us　at　3。40　P。M。

〃January　4。At　5。50　A。M。　we　actually　overtook　the　nine　vessels　with
Tayib　Agha　that　we　had　left　seventeen　days　ago；　these　miserable　people
have　thus　been　wasting　their　time。　The　trading　vessel　of　Jules　Poncet；
that　left　the　Sobat　only　six　days　ago；　is　in　sight　ahead；　thus　she　has
in　six　days　passed　the　boats　that　have　been　twenty…four　days　from　the
same　starting…point。　I　took　the　sail　belonging　to　the　wrecked　noggur
from　one；　and　passed　ahead　of　all；　except　one　that　I　kept　back　for
repairs　while　we　cut　wood　at　the　forest。

〃January　5。Arrived　at　Kutchuk　Ali's　station　at　10。30　A。M。；　and　took　in
wood。　The　country　is　all　flooded；　and　both　the　natives　and　the　traders
are　without　corn；　the　crops　having　been　destroyed　by　the　extraordinary
rise　of　the　river。　The　people　have　no　other　grain　than　the　scanty　supply
yielded　by　the　seeds　of　the　lotus；　which　they　collect　from　the　river。　I
met　several　men　who　had　formerly　served　under　Ibrahim；　when　we
accompanied　Khoorshood　Agha's　party　to　Unyoro　many　years　ago。

〃January　6。Cutting　wood。　I　wrote　to　Colonel　Tayib　Agha；　desiring　him
to　take　in　as　much　fuel　as　his　vessels　can　stow；　as　there　is　no　wood
ahead。　The　vakeel　of　the　station　supplied　five　cows　and　six　goats。　I
gave　him　five　urdeps　of　dhurra　（22　bushels）。　We　started　at　4　P。M。

〃January　7。During　the　night；　at　12。40　A。M。；　to　my　intense　disgust；　we
passed　a　great　number　of　our　vessels　with　Raouf　Bey。　Shortly　after；　we
passed　others；　together　with　the　boat　of　Achmet　Effendi；　bimbashi。　These
officers　and　people　are　incorrigible；　they　have　idled　their　time　on　the
road　to　such　an　extent　that　I　can　only　conclude　it　is　done　purposely。　We
wasted　about　an　hour　during　the　night　in　stopping　to　make　inquiries。

〃At　11。30　A。M。；　we　passed　the　solitary　ambatch　bush　on　the　west　bank
where　the　steamer　smashed　her　paddle　last　year。　The　wind　is　strong　from
the　north。　Last　year　we　were　five　hours　from　the　ambatch　bush　to　the
dubba。　We　shall　therefore　arrive　to…day　at　about　4　P。M。　We　have　been
exactly　19　1/2　hours　steaming　from　Kutchuk　Ali's　station　to　the　ambatch。
We　left　Tewfikeeyah　at　11　o'clock；　we　have　therefore　been　twenty…seven
days　to　the　spot　at　the　dubba　that　we　should　reach　this　evening。　Last
year　we　left　Khartoum　on　8th　February；　and　we　arrived　at　the　station　in
the　following　order：

〃February　15thFashoda。　16thSobat　junction。　18thBahr　Giraffe
junction。　March　2ndarrived　at　the　forest　beyond　Kutchuk　Ali's　station。
This　is　the　same　spot　where　we　overtook　Raouf　Bey　last　night；　he　having
left　Tewfikeeyah　on　11th　December。　Thus　he　has　been　twenty…six　days　from
Tewfikeeyah　in　reaching　the　spot　this　year　which　he　arrived　at　from　the
great　distance　of　Khartoum　in　our　former　voyage　in　twenty…two　days！　Last
year　the　fleet　was　fourteen　days　on　the　voyage　from　the　Sobat　to　the
above　spot；　this　year　they　have　been　twenty…six　days！　I　believe
thoroughly　that　they　delay　purposely；　in　the　hope　of　thwarting　the
expedition。

〃Last　year　the　whole　fleet　assembled　at　the　dubba　in　twenty　days　from
Fashoda。

〃We　arrived　at　the　dubba　at　5。30　P。M。；　having　been　delayed　two　hours　by
obstructions　and　rapids。

〃January　8。We　cut　through　a　horrid　accumulation　of　floating　rafts　that
have　filled　the　open　space　of　last　year　between　the　dubba　and　the　mouth
of　our　old　channel。　This　being　completed；　I　ordered　the　boats　to　keep　in
close　line　until　the　arrival　of　the　main　body；　otherwise　the　floating
rafts　would　again　block　up　the　channel　should　the　boats　proceed。

〃January　9。Hauled　the　dingy　over　the　marsh；　and　explored　the　old
channel　for　a　distance　of　fifty　minutes。　Thank　goodness；　this　was　clear
to　that　point；　a　distance　of　about　two　miles；　but　at　length　we　were
stopped　by　vegetation。　The　latter　is　of　a　light　character；　and　can　be
easily　removed。　Clouds　of　mosquitoes；　the　dew　very　heavy　at　night。

〃Shot　a　Baleniceps　Rex；　with　rifle。

〃January　10。At　day…break　we　distinguished　eight　sail　on　the　northern
horizon。

〃January　11。Brisk　north　wind。　Raouf　Bey　arrived　in　the　evening。

〃January　12。Started　and　passed　the　choked　river　with　much　difficulty；
and　entered　the　channel　of　last　year's　clearing。

〃January　13。We　only　made　about　two　miles　yesterday　and　to…day；　being
stopped　by　vegetation。

〃Jan