ismailia-第27章

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the　surviving　inhabitants；　who　had　taken　refuge　in　the　islands；　or　on
the　west　side　of　the　river。　At　this　season　the　entire　country　was
covered　with　a　tender　herbagethat　species　of　fine　grass；　called　by　the
Arabs　〃negheel；〃　which　is　the　best　pasturage　for　cattle。　Allorron's
people　dared　not　bring　their　herds　to　pasture　upon　this　beautiful　land
from　whence　they　had　been　driven；　as　they　were　afraid　that　the　news
would　soon　reach　Loquia；　who　would　pounce　unexpectedly　upon　them　from
the　neighbouring　forest。

I　had　therefore　arrived　in　a　country　from　which　the　original　possessors
had　been　banished　by　superior　force：　there　was　not　a　single
representative　of　the　tribe　upon　the　mainland；　neither　could　their
cattle　venture　across　the　river　to　pasture　upon　the　beautiful　herbage；
that　was　now　entirely　neglected　except　by　a　few　herds　of　antelopes。　At
the　same　time；　the　pasturage　on　the　islands；　being　insufficient　for　the
large　herds　of　cattle；　was　consumed；　and　the　animals　were　dependent　upon
the　rank　grass；　which　they　could　only　reach　by　wading　into　the　water；
thus　many　were　taken　by　crocodiles。

It　would　have　been　natural　to　suppose　that　Allorron　and　his　people　would
have　welcomed　the　protection　now　offered　by　the　new　government。　I
invited　them　to　return　to　their　old　country；　from　which　they　had　been
expelled；　and　to　rebuild　their　villages　on　their　old　sites；　where　they
could　recommence　their　cultivation；　and　form　a　new　settlement　under　the
wing　of　our　headquarters。

It　was　easy　to　perceive　by　the　manner　of　the　chief；　Allorron；　and　his
people　that　they　had　been　incited　by　Abou　Saood　and　his　companies
against　the　expedition。　My　delay　in　starting　from　Egypt　had　been　of
immense　advantage　to　the　slave…traders；　as　it　had　given　them　time　to
organize　a　resistance　to　the　expedition。　The　negroes　are　easily　misled；
naturally　vicious　and　treacherous；　they　are　ready　to　believe　any　tales
of　evil：　and　as　a　young　child　may　be　frightened　by　a　ghost　story；　they
also　may　by　a　few　words　be　rendered　suspicious　of　their　best　friend。
Their　interests　were　the　same　as　those　of　the　slave…traders。

My　〃Forty　Thieves〃　＇*＇　were　excellent　fellows；　and　all　the　men　who　
were　constantly　about　me　were　very　different　from　those　who　formed　
the　bulk　of　the　military　force。　I　now　commenced　a　small　station　and　
a　large　garden。

＇*Footnote：　The　bodyguard　of　picked　men；　armed　with　snider　rifles。＇

I　had　chosen　a　pretty　spot　for　my　station；　as　I　did　not　intend　to　reside
at　head…quarters；　which　would　be　the　site　originally　occupied　by　the
Austrian　mission；　and　was　well　adapted　for　a　large　town。

My　position　was　a　rising　knoll　of　about　six　acres　upon　which　grew　a　few
shady　trees。　This　spot　had　been　the　station　of　a　missionary　known　by　the
natives　under　the　name　of　〃Suleiman；〃　his　was　the　only　name　remembered
by　the　Baris；　and　his　body　had　been　buried　here；　but　nothing　marked　the
spot。　He　had　passed　away；　like　all　the　rest　of　these　good　and
self…sacrificing　people；　without　leaving　one　trace　of　good　works　among
this　barbarous　tribe　except　the　lemon…trees；　theirs　was　the　only　seed
that　appeared　to　have　fallen　on　good　ground。

In　a　few　days　my　men　had　made　a　large　garden；　in　which　I　sowed　onions；
radishes；　beans；　spinach；　four　varieties　of　water　melons；　sweet　melons；
cucumbers；　oranges；　custard　apples；　Indian　corn；　garlic；　barmian；
tobacco；　cabbages；　tomatoes；　chilis；　long　capsicums；　carrots；　parsley；
celery。　I　arranged　the　daily　labour　so　that　the　soldiers　and　sailors
should　work　at　the　cultivation　from　6　A。M。　till　11；　after　which　they
might　have　the　day　to　themselves；　to　construct　their　own　huts。

At　this　season；　20th　April　1871；　the　river　was　extremely　low；　I
therefore　fixed　a　pole　with　marked　inches　to　register　the　rise　of
floods。

By　the　23rd　April　all　my　men　had　arranged　gardens　parallel　with　the
lines　of　their　camp。　I　gave　them　various　seeds；　with　a　promise　of　prizes
for　the　finest　specimens　of　vegetables　that　might　be　produced。　I　had
always　endeavoured　to　create　a　taste　for　agriculture　among　my　people；
and　they　had　now　learnt　that　the　commencement　of　a　new　settlement　was
the　signal　for　cultivation。　I　believe　that　no　employment　engenders　such
a　love　of　a　particular　locality　as　that　of　farming；　provided　always　that
the　soil　and　climate　are　favourable。　Thus；　in　an　expedition　to　a　distant
land；　it　is　necessary　to　induce　the　feelings　of　HOME　among　the　people。
The　hut　by　itself　is　simply　shelter；　but　the　same　hut　surrounded　by　a
neat　and　productive　garden；　the　result　of　industry；　becomes　a　settled
residence。　It　is　pleasant　to　watch　the　blossoms　of　home　flowers　and
vegetables　that　you　may　have　yourself　introduced　and　planted。　A　good
English　cabbage　or　carrot　may　not　be　introduced　in　poetry　so　generally
as　the　rose；　but　in　a　new　settlement　in　a　wild　country；　the　success　of　a
cabbage　or　carrot　is　of　more　importance　to　the　expedition　than　bouquets
of　flowers。

Even　the　women　and　boys　that　were　domestic　servants；　originally　slaves
that　I　had　liberated　from　the　traders；　had　learnt　to　take　a　great
interest　in　cultivation。　Each　had　a　garden；　and　a　day　never　passed
without　permission　being　asked　for　a　few　hours'　recreation　with　the
spade　or　hoe；　the　latter　being　the　favourite　implement；　as　the　want　of
shoes　rendered　the　management　of　the　spade　extremely　difficult；　except
in　very　light　soil。

I　believe　that　a　taste　for　gardening　has　a　most　civilizing　influence
among　savages；　and　if　I　were　a　missionary；　I　should　commence　with　such
practical　teaching；　thus　proving　in　your　joint　labour　with　the　natives
the　principle　that　industry　and　peace　will　create　prosperity。

A　few　extracts　front　my　journal　will　describe　the　gradual　progress　of
the　settlement：

〃Mr。　Higginbotham　shot　a　waterbuck　during　an　exploratory　ramble　that　we
took　through　the　forest；　in　search　of　large　timber　for　building
purposes。　The　main　forest　begins　about　two　miles　from　this　station；　in
which　is　an　unlimited　supply　of　wood；　including　the　most　magnificent
tamarind…trees。　These　beautiful　specimens　are　dotted　about　the　country；
like　park　timber　in　England。　There　is　a　tamarind…tree　about　a　mile　from
this　station；　beneath　which　about　a　thousand　cattle　might　find
shade。　（It　must　be　remembered　that　the　Bari　cattle　are　very　small。）

〃There　is　a　native；　named　Tomby；　who　speaks　excellent　Arabic。　This
fellow　has　been　twice　to　Khartoum；　and　he　wears　clothes；　instead　of
walking　about　in　a　state　of　absolute　nudity　like　his　countrymen。　He　has
an　excellent　rifle　that　was　given　to　him　by　his　old　master；　a　French
trader；　Monsieur　Bartholome。　Tomby　has　been　employed　as　interpreter；　and
having　been　born　and　bred　in　these　parts；　he　is　a　perfect　chronicler。　It
appears　that　Abou　Saood　treacherously　murdered　the　sheik　of　Belinian；　a
country　about　twelve　miles　distant　from　this　station。　He　feared　the
sheik　of　Belinian；　who　was　a　powerful　neighbour：　he　therefore；
professing　friendship；　invited　him　and　his　family　to　an　entertainment　at
Gondokoro。　The　sheik　and　his　people；　not　suspecting　evil；　arrived；
bringing　with　them　the　usual　presents。　Abou　Saood　received　them　very
politely；　and　when　they　were　seated；　and　had　entered　into　conversation；
he　had　them　seized　by　his　people；　and　murdered　them　on　the　spot　in　cold
blood。　Owing　to　this　treacherous　conduct；　the　entire　neighbourhood　is
hostile；　and　anarchy　prevails　throughout　the　country；　thus　I　cannot　send
a　letter　to　the　traders'　camp　at　Latooka；　as　no　one　dares　to　travel。

〃April　24。　Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　74　degrees　F；　noon；　fell　to　72　degrees
F。　We　had　a　picnic　at　the　old　mission　station；　where　I　went　accompanied
by　Lieutenant　Baker；　Mr。　Higginbotham；　and　my　wife；　to　measure　out　the
camp　and　fort。　As　usual　in　England；　the　picnic　brought　on　heavy　rain；
which　lasted　from　9。30　a。m。　till　2　p。m。；　to　the　great　benefit　of　the
garden。

〃April　25。　Thermometer；　6　A。M。；　69　degrees　F；　noon；　80　degrees　F。　We
completed　the　large　garden；　the　soldiers'　allotments　are　also　complete。
The　camp　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　is　very　neat；　a　spirit　of　industry　has
seized　upon　the　whole　party。　The　women　have　made　gardens　around　their
huts；　and　agriculture　appears　to　be　the　prevailing　fashion。　I　am
surrounding　the　cultivation　with　a　live　fence　of　euphorbia。　Julian　has
been　unwell　for　some　time　past。

〃The　natives　appear　to　have　gained　confidence；　as　they　are　bringing
their　cattle　across　the　river　from　the　islands　to　our　fine　pasturage。　It
is　curious　to　see　the　manner　in　which　the　herd　follows　the　man　who　swims
before　them　as　their　guide；　while　other　natives　direct　them　while
swimming　by　striking　them　upon　the　horns　with　long　bamboos。

〃Yesterday　the　river　rose　about　two　feet；　but　it　fell　almost　as
suddenly；　showing　that　the　rise　was　only　the　effect　of　the　heavy　rain
upon　the　mountain　ranges　throughout　the　country。

〃One　of　the　boys；　Said；　caught　three　fish；　weighing　about　eight；　ten；
and　twenty　pounds　each。　These　were　of　the　Siluras　species；　and　are
excellent　eating。

〃The　white　ants　are　now　issuing　from　the　ground　in　vast　numbers　in　the
winged　state；　and　are　taking　flight。　Myriads　of　the　black　and　white　tern
and　the　white　storks　are　following　them。　The　lizards　are　also　at　work　in
the　general　persecution。

〃April　26；　27。　Made　new　garden　beds。　All　the　seeds　sown　by　the　troops
are　above　ground；　to　the　great　delight　of　the　men。　We　cleared　and　sowed
about　an　acre　with　Indian　corn　to…day。〃

We　thus　continued　working　and　improving；　until　we　had　in　a　comparatively
short　time　produced　a　great　result。　About　ten　acres　of　corn　were　above
ground；　as　a　few　showers　had　started　the　seeds　like　magic。　My　men　were
comfortably　housed　in　a　neat　station　on　the　high　ground；　while　my
servants　had　a　pretty　little　village　of　their　own　situated　on　the　knoll；
by　the　river　side；　about　fifty　yards　from　my　diahbeeah。　This　vessel　was
moored　alongside　the　bank；　the　fine　grass　of　which　was　kept　closely　cut；
so　as　to　resemble　a　lawn；　that　extended　for　about　thirty　yards；　this　was
bounded　by　prickly　pears　and　ornamented　by　a　large　and　showy
butter…nut…tree；　which　formed　our　out…door　drawing　room。

It　was　all　very　well　to　establish　a　government；　and　to　commence　the
civilization　of　Central　Africa；　but　we　were　very　hungry；　and　we　could
procure　nothing　from　the　natives。　We　had　no　butchers'　meat；　neither
would　the　Sheik　Allorron　or　his　people　sell　us　either　sheep　or　cattle。

For　several　days　we　lived　upon　sparrows；　which　Monsoor　shot　by
sprinkling　corn　upon　the　ground　and　firing　into　the　assembled　flock　of
hundreds。　The　country　was　swarming　with　these　small　birds；　which　are　no
doubt　delicacies；　but　if　you　have　a　good　appetite　they　are　a　little　too
light　on　the　stomach。　In　the　mean　time；　although　the　natives　could　now
venture　to　drive　their　cattle　to　the　rich　pasturage　under　our
protection；　which　they　could　not　before　enjoy　for　fear　of　their　enemies
the　Loquia；　they　absolutely　refused　to　sell；　or　to　supply　us　in　any
manner。　In　spite　of　my　explanations　to　the　sheik　by　the　interpreter
Tomby；　he　refused　to　bring　either　grass　or　wood　for　the　expected
soldiers'　huts；　or　in　fact　to　do　anything　to　serve　us。

Upon　one　occasion；　as　my　men　were　sowing　and　clearing　the　land　for
planting；　he　employed　natives　to　work　a