ismailia-第30章

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The　fact　of　the　natives　receiving　the　deserters　was　enough　to　suggest
the　suspicion　that　they　were　tampering　with　the　troops。　Although　the
Baris　would　neither　work　nor　assist　in　any　manner；　they　continued；　in
spite　of　my　warning；　to　swim　their　cattle　across　to　the　pasturage　on　the
mainland　occupied　by　the　troops。

I　again　gave　the　sheik　Allorron　notice；　that　if　he　continued　to　drive
his　cattle　to　the　forbidden　pasture；　they　would　be　confiscated。

On　the　following　morning　they　returned　to　the　mainland　as　usual；　not　the
slightest　notice　having　been　taken　of　my　repeated　and　official　warning。

I　gave　orders　to　secure　them。　About　ten　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃
quietly　explained　the　order　to　the　natives　who　guarded　the　cattle；　and
without　any　remonstrance　they　drove　them　to　my　station；　and　stood　guard
around　the　herd。

The　natives　returned　to　the　island；　and　reported　the　affair　to　the　sheik
Allorron　and　his　people。

Early　on　the　following　morning；　the　sheik；　accompanied　by　fifteen
headmen　of　villages　and　a　number　of　natives；　together　with　Tomby　the
interpreter；　attended　and　formed　a　deputation。　I　received　them　beneath
the　shady　tree　near　my　diahbeeah。　They　looked　very　sheepish；　and　asked
me；　〃Why　had　I　confiscated　their　cattle？〃

I　explained　the　reason：　and　they　at　length　acknowledged　that　they　had　no
positive　right　of　pasturage；　as　they　had　been　driven　from　their　country
by　the　Loquia；　and　were　it　not　for　my　presence　they　could　not　venture　to
drive　their　cattle　to　the　mainland。　At　the　same　time　they　explained；
that　the　extreme　dryness　of　the　season　had　exhausted　the　grass　upon　the
island　after　the　close　grazing　of　the　large　herds；　thus　they　had
imagined　I　should　not　have　any　real　objection　to　their　pasturing　upon
the　east　banks；　which；　as　I　had　no　cattle；　would　otherwise　be　neglected。

I　explained　that　the　government　must　be　obeyed；　and　that；　as　they　had
disobeyed　every　order；　I　should　take　charge　of　their　cattle　（about　200）
until　they　showed　a　disposition　to　accept　the　Khedive's　authority。　At
the　same　time；　if　the　natives　would　bring　thatch　grass　and　assist　the
troops　in　forming　the　station　（a　work　which　they　had　always　performed
annually　for　Abou　Saood's　people）；　I　would　return　them　their　cattle。

A　long　conversation　ensued　among　the　headmen；　several　of　whom　rose　in
succession；　and　addressed　the　meeting　with　great　energy　and　fluency。
They　declared　that　there　had　been　a　general　misunderstanding；　but　that
they　now　began　to　comprehend　their　position。　I　informed　them　that　they
must　themselves　appoint　a　responsible　sheik　or　headman；　as　many　had
refused　to　obey　Allorron。　I　should　regard　one　chief　as　their
representative；　and　they　as　headmen　must　elect　him　at　the　present
assembly。　I　should　also　place　the　power　in　the　hands　of　the　chief；　whose
orders　must　be　obeyed　by　the　headmen　of　the　villages。　This　chief　would
be　responsible　to　me　for　the　acts　of　those　beneath　him；　and　I　should
punish　all　those　who　refused　to　acknowledge　his　authority。

The　meeting　ended　most　satisfactorily。　The　natives　explained；　that；
although　Allorron　had　been　the　ostensible　sheik　for　a　great　length　of
time；　the　true　sheik　by　actual　descent　was　a　chief　named　Morbe；　but　as
his　cattle　had　been　carried　off　by　the　Loquia；　he　had　lost　his　property；
and　also　his　influence　among　the　people。　In　those　savage　countries　the
possession　of　property　is　considered　absolutely　necessary　to　a　man　in　a
high　position。

Morbe　was　elected　unanimously　as　the　sheik　responsible　to　the
government。　All　headmen　declared　they　would　obey　his　orders；　even
Allorron　appeared　pleased　that　he　had　shifted　his　responsibility　upon
the　shoulders　of　another。　The　headmen　all　promised　that　they　would　beat
their　drums　and　summon　their　people　on　their　return　to　their　villages；
and　that　on　the　morrow　they　would　collect　bamboos　and　thatch…grass　for
any　purpose　we　might　require。　The　meeting　ended　by　their　agreeing　to
deliver　a　certain　number　of　bundles　in　a　given　period：　they　also
promised　to　supply　the　troops　with　oxen　at　a　stipulated　price。　Morbe；
the　new　sheik；　then　addressed　me　in　the　name　of　the　assembly；　and　begged
me　to　establish　confidence　and　goodwill　by　returning　them　their　cattle。
I　had　expected　this　request。　I　therefore　replied；　that　as　they　had
attended　my　summons　and　promised　obedience；　I　would　test　their　sincerity
by　returning　them　not　only　their　own　cattle；　but　I　would　trust　them　with
the　care　of　my　three　large　breeding　cows　which　I　had　brought　from　the
Rohr　country；　at　the　same　time；　I　gave　them　fair　warning；　that　if　they
broke　the　agreement　now　entered　upon；　I　should　not　be　in　a　hurry　to
return　their　cattle　on　a　future　occasion。　They　seemed　to　be；　quite
satisfied；　and　the　meeting　broke　up。

They　drove　off　the　herd；　together　with　my　three　cows；　while　my　soldiers
looked　on　with　utter　amazement　and　regarded　me　as　thought　I　had　lost　my
senses。

Although　I　had　entered　into　this　agreement；　the　natives　had　not　the
slightest　idea　of　carrying　out　their　promises。　A　few　bundles　of　bamboos
were　brought；　also　some　thatch…grass；　but　not　an　ox　was　given　to　the
troops。　The　sheik　of　Belinian　had　refused　to　appear；　and　he　alleged　as
an　excuse　that　he　feared　treachery；　since　his　father　and　family　had　been
murdered　when　guests　of　Abou　Saood。　The　Baris　of　Gondokoro　had　regained
their　cattle；　and　they　did　not　trouble　themselves　about　their　contract；
as　they　inwardly　hoped　that　by　starving　us　they　might　succeed　in
disgusting　the　troops；　which　would　necessitate　the　abandonment　of　the
expedition。

A　few　days　after　the　breach　of　contract；　Tomby；　the　interpreter；
appeared；　and　told　me　that　the　Baris　had　refused　to　work；　and　that　the
government　would　not　succeed　in　that　country。　The　people　wished　me　to
join　them　with　my　troops；　and　to　attack　their　old　enemy；　Loquia。　I
should　then　obtain　cattle　and　sheep　in　the　razzia；　and　the　government
would　be　independent。

This　was　the　regular　negro　system　which　had　originally　introduced　the
slave　trade　throughout　the　White　Nile。　One　tribe　invariably　requests　the
alliance　of　a　superior　force　to　attack　some　powerful　neighbour：　the
prisoners　of　war　become　slaves。　When　trading　adventurers　first　commenced
on　the　White　Nile；　the　natives　sold　ivory　for　beads　and　copper
bracelets；　and　trade　was　fairly　established。　The　armed　companies　of　the
traders　were　immediately　invited　to　become　allies；　and　attacks　were　made
upon　various　tribes。　The　cattle　and　slaves　became　the　property　of　the
captors。　The　traders　quickly　discovered　that　it　was　far　easier　and　more
profitable　to　steal　cattle　and　slaves　to　exchange　for　ivory；　than　to
import　goods　from　Khartoum。　They　commenced　the　system　of　cattle…lifting
and　slave…hunting；　which　rapidly　increased　until　it　arrived　at　the
immense　scale　already　described。

I　preached　morality　hopelessly　to　the　Baris；　they　were　mere　ruffians；
and　they　longed　for　the　arrival　of　Abou　Saood；　who　would　once　more　give
them　an　opportunity　of　joining　his　people　to　plunder　and　enslave　the
tribes　of　the　interior。　It　was　in　vain　that　I　assured　them　of　the
impossibility　of　such　proceedings；　and　that　Abou　Saood's　people　would
not　be　permitted　by　the　government　to　continue　these　atrocities。　They
ridiculed　the　idea；　and　declared　that　the　traders　would　always　continue
in　their　old　customs；　notwithstanding　the　presence　of　the　Khedive's
officers。　They　said　that　no　business　could　be　done　in　any　other　way　in
those　countries；　they　advised　me　to　〃take　women　and　cattle；　and　then　the
natives　would　listen　to　my　advice；　but　not　otherwise。〃

It　was　utter　folly　to　attempt　negotiations　with　these　people；　they　were
the　most　brutal　and　obtuse　savages。　They　had　been　abandoned　by　the
missionaries　as　hopeless；　and　they　would　acknowledge　nothing　but　force。

The　troops　were　discontented。　After　all　their　fatigues；　the　promised
land　was　starvation。　There　was　still　much　work　to　be　done；　as　the
expedition　was　in　fact　only　commencing。　By　degrees　the　Baris　absented
themselves　entirely　from　our　camp；　and　we　were　left　to　ourselves　as
utter　strangers。　The　cattle　were　driven　over　to　our　fine　pasturage
daily；　and　returned　at　night　to　their　island；　but　not　an　ox；　or　even　a
goat；　was　ever　offered　for　sale；　and　all　communication　between　us　and
the　natives　had　apparently　ceased。

It　was　quite　impossible　to　allow　this　to　continue。　I　gave　the　order；　and
once　more　the　soldiers　quietly　surrounded　the　herd　of　cattle；　and　drove
them　to　head…quarters　as　before。　The　old　scene　was　re…enacted。　The　new
sheik；　Morbe；　together　with　Allorron　and　many　headmen；　arrived。　Again　a
long　palaver　took　place；　through　the　medium　of　Tomby；　the　interpreter；
and　the　promises　of　good　behaviour　were　renewed。

I　informed　them　that　I　should　not　confiscate　their　cattle；　but　I　should
keep　them　as　hostages　for　their　good　behaviour；　at　the　same　time；　I
should　select　a　certain　number　of　oxen　as　food　for　the　troops；　which
should　be　paid　for。

The　meeting　terminated　with　fresh　assurances　of　goodwill　。　。　。　A　few
days　elapsed；　but　the　Baris　did　not　return；　we　were　completely
abandoned。

On　June　29th　the　camp　was　disturbed　at　night　by　an　attempt　of　the
natives　to　drive　off　some　of　the　cattle。　The　sentry　fired；　but　without
effect。　I　foresaw　trouble。

On　June　1st　I　issued　a　General　Order　to　the　troops

〃The　natives　of　the　Bari　having　disobeyed　the　summons　of　the　government；
and　having　refused　compliance　with　the　regulations　established；　it　has
become　necessary　to　compel　them　to　obedience　by　force。

〃In　the　event　of　hostilities；　I　specially　forbid　the　capture　of　women；
or　children　of　either　sex。　Any　officer　or　soldier　disobeying　this　order
will　suffer　death。　〃S。　W。　BAKER。〃

I　felt　certain　that　a　breach　of　the　peace　was　at　hand；　and　I　made
arrangements　accordingly。　The　troops　were　daily　engaged　in　building　the
station；　in　which　they　were　assisted　by　the　sailors；　all　of　whom　were
obliged　to　carry　the　material　from　a　distance　of　two　miles　from　the
forest。　A　party　of　sawyers　with　a　small　escort　of　soldiers　were　settled
in　a　camp　about　three　miles　from　my　station；　as　the　distance　was　too
great　for　a　daily　return　from　their　work。　One　night　they　were　attacked
by　the　natives；　who　shot　arrows　and　yelled　for　about　an　hour；　but
fortunately　did　not　succeed　in　wounding　any　of　the　men；　who　were　well
protected　by　the　trunks　of　some　very　large　trees。　The　soldiers　had　fired
away　a　considerable　amount　of　ammunition　in　return；　until　they　managed
to　escape　during　the　darkness；　and　run　away　to　head…quarters。

On　3rd　June；　at　about　3　P。M。；　when　the　cattle　were　grazing　in　the
beautiful　park…like　ground　about　a　mile　from　head…quarters；　some　Baris；
who　had　stealthily　approached　the　herd　by　stalking　from　bush　to　bush；
without　being　observed　by　the　sleepy　guards；　made　a　sudden　rush　with
loud　yells　among　the　cattle；　and　succeeded　in　driving　off　ten　cows　with
which　they　swam　the　river　without　a　shot　being　fired　by　the　unready
soldiers。　（On　this　occasion　the　guards　must　have　run　away　at　the　first
onset　of　the　natives。）

On　the　night　of　the　4th　June　two　natives　were　captured　by　the　sentries。
These　people　had　crept　in　the　pitch　darkness；　until　they　had　succeeded
in　entering　the　cattle　zareeba。　One　of　them　confessed　that　a　la