ismailia-第32章

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rather　awkward；　as　the　defence　was　a　circle：　thus　as　the　troops　fired
into　a　common　centre；　the　bullets　that　passed　through　the　intervening
spaces　between　the　uprights　of　hard　wood　came　pinging　about　our　ears。
The　sky　had　become　grey；　and　there　was　sufficient　light　to　discover　the
doorway　of　the　stockade。　I　ordered　the　bugles　to　sound　〃cease　firing；〃
and　prepared　to　force　the　entrance。　This　was　a　narrow　archway　about　four
feet　six　inches　high；　constructed　of　large　pieces　of　hard　wood　that　it
was　impossible　to　destroy。　The　doorway　was　stopped　by　transverse　bars　of
abdnoos；　or　Bari　ebony；　and　protected　by　a　mass　of　hooked　thorn　that　had
been　dragged　into　the　passage　and　jammed　beneath　the　cross…bars。

I　ordered　Lieutenant…Colonel　Abd…el…Kader　to　force　the　gateway。　This　he
immediately　commenced；　assisted　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　Mr。
Higginbotham；　together　with　a　party　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　while　others
of　the　same　corps　closed　up　to　the　stockade　on　either　side　of　the
entrance；　and　kept　up　a　heavy　fire　to　protect　the　attack。

In　the　mean　time　the　immense　drum　within　the　stockade　was　thundering　out
the　summons　to　collect　the　whole　of　the　neighbourhood　for　war。　This
signal　was　answered　by　the　heavy　booming　sound　of　innumerable　drums
throughout　the　district　far　and　near；　and　as　it　had　now　become　light；　I
could　distinguish　the　natives　collecting　from　all　parts　and　evidently
surrounding　our　position。　I　therefore　posted　men　as　skirmishers　around
the　circle　about　eighty　yards　distant　from　the　stockade；　facing
outwards；　while　the　small　party　forced　the　gateway。

The　fire　of　the　snider　rifles　and　the　steady　shooting　of　the　〃Forty
Thieves〃　quickly　reduced　the　number　of　arrows；　and　the　natives；　finding
that　it　was　getting　too　hot；　suddenly　made　a　dash　by　a　secret　entrance
and　rushed　through　the　troops；　now　of　necessity　widely　scattered；　and
they　gained　the　forest。

At　the　same　time　the　gateway　was　forced；　and　we　found　a　prize　within　of
upwards　of　six　hundred　cows。　The　stockade；　or　zareeba；　was　immensely
strong；　formed　of　massive　logs　of　ironwood　deeply　imbedded　in　the　earth；
and　arranged　so　closely　together　that　not　one　bullet　out　of　ten　would
have　found　its　way　through　the　crevices　if　fired　from　a　distance。　The
proper　way　to　attack　the　circular　strongholds　is　to　make　a　sudden　rush
close　up　to　the　defence；　and　to　lay　the　rifle　between　the　openings；　the
stockade　then　becomes　a　protection　to　the　attacking　party；　as　there　is
no　flank　fire　to　enfilade　them。

The　natives　were　now　gathering　on　all　sides；　but　we　were　in　possession；
and　although　our　party　consisted　of　only　seventy　men；　we　had　an
impregnable　position；　which　I　could　hold　until　joined　by　Tayib　Agha。　I
accordingly　took　a　few　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　to　a　distance　of　about　150
paces　away　from　the　centre；　and　concealed　them　as　sharpshooters；
wherever　I　found　a　convenient　cover。　The　fire　of　the　sniders　kept　the
enemy　at　a　respectful　distance。

There　were　no　signs　of　Tayib　Agha。　The　sun　was　risen；　and　clouds　of
steam　began　to　rise　from　the　wet　ground　and　the　dripping　trees。　I
ordered　some　grass　huts　to　be　fired；　as　the　volume　of　smoke　might
attract　the　attention　of　Tayib　Agha's　detachment；　which　had　evidently
gone　astray。　If　near；　they　must　have　heard　the　sound　of　our　rifles。

The　huts　were　soon　in　flames；　and　the　smoke　rose　high　in　air；　which
would　be　a　signal　to　be　seen　from　a　great　distance。

I　sent　two　buglers　to　the　top　of　a　tall　tree；　from　which　elevated　post
they　blew　the　call　for　the　lieutenant…colonel　and　his　three　companies
continually　for　about　half…an…hour。

We　were　hungry；　therefore　a　fat　calf　was　killed；　and　cooking　immediately
commenced。　I　had　a　little　box　of　salt　and　pepper；　together　with　some
biscuits；　thus　we　were　in　luxury。　My　good　Monsoor　was　a　fair　cook；
therefore　the　fat；　kidneys；　and　liver　having　been　cut　into　pieces　about
two　inches　square；　and　arranged　on　a　steel　ramrod；　were　well　salted　and
peppered；　and　laid　on　the　red…hot　embers　when　the　flame　and　smoke　had
subsided。　There　is　nothing　so　good　as　kabobs　thus　simply　prepared：　the
ramrod　is　then　stuck　upright　in　the　ground；　and　you　sit　down　and　cut　off
the　pieces　as　required。　Salt　should　always　be　carried　mixed　with　black
and　red　pepper　in　proper　proportions；　it　saves　much　trouble。

We　were　enjoying　our　breakfast；　the　cows　lately　captured　gave　plenty　of
milk；　which　our　servants　had　boiled　in　the　Baris'　earthen　pots；　and　we
were　discussing　the　possibility　of　Tayib　Agha　having　lost　his　way；　when
we　heard　distant　shots　fired　on　the　open　hills　at　the　foot　of　Belinian
mountain；　about　a　mile　and；　a　half　to　our　right。　We　shortly
distinguished　smoke；　which　was　a　reply　to　our　signal。　It　was　evident
that　Tayib　Agha　had　strayed　far　to　the　south；　but　it　was　satisfactory　to
know　that　he　had　seen　our　position。

We　could　now　distinguish　the　troops　with　the　telescope；　and　even　make
out　the　gun　that　was　dragged　by　about　twenty　men。　They　were　on　their
direct　way　to　join　us。

My　men　had　captured　three　young　girls；　whom　they　brought　to　me。　The
oldest　was　about　fifteen；　and　was　pretty　and　intelligent：　she　had
formerly　been　a　slave　of　the　traders；　and　was　marked；　according　to　their
custom；　by　several　scars　on　either　cheek。　The　girl　spoke　good　Arabic；
and　did　not　appear　to　show　the　slightest　alarm。

I　asked　her　why　the　Belinian　Baris　had　attacked　us；　and　taken　cattle
from　the　station　at　Gondokoro；　without　the　slightest　provocation？　She
replied　that　they　had　been　invited　by　the　sheik　Allorron　to　become
allies；　therefore　they　had　attacked　us　and　driven　off　the　cows；　some　of
which　were　now　among　the　cattle　we　had　that　morning　captured。

I　told　her　that　we　never　took　slaves；　therefore　she　and　her　companions
might　return　to　the　Baris；　and　inform　them　that　I　had　come　upon　the
tracks　of　the　cattle　which　they　had　driven　off　from　Gondokoro。　If　they
desired　peace；　I　should　be　happy　to　treat　with　them；　but　if　they　should
return　to　attack　us　at　head…quarters；　I　should　not　spare　them；　but　I
would　utterly　root　them　out　of　the　neighbourhood。　The　girls　laughed　and
started　off；　not　in　the　least　disturbed　by　the　scene　around　them。

At　length；　Tayib　Agha's　detachment　arrived。　They　were　very　angry　with
Morgian；　the　guide；　who；　they　declared；　had　purposely　misled　them。　This
was　not　the　fact；　the　man　had　lost　his　way　in　the　dark　in　the　endeavour
to　seek　a　better　path　for　the　gun。　However；　we　were　now　united；　and　I
ordered　the　men　to　breakfast。

The　sniders　had　cleared　the　natives　from　the　vicinity；　and　now　that　we
had　been　reinforced　by　Tayib　Agha's　party；　there　was　no　fear　of　the
Baris。　They　kept　aloof；　and　merely　watched　our　movements　from　the　tops
of　high　trees；　where　they　perched　like　cormorants；　and　saw　the　enjoyment
of　the　troops　engaged　in　roasting　beef　that　had　lately　been　their　own。

I　fully　expected　a　difficulty　with　the　natives　when　we　should　attempt　to
drive　the　herd　of　strange　cattle　through　the　jungle　path　to　Gondokoro。　I
therefore　determined　to　make　a　reconnaissance　of　the　neighbourhood　when
the　men　should　have　finished　their　breakfast；　in　order　to　drive　the
Baris　from　the　vicinity；　and　thus　obtain　a　fair　start　for　the　cattle。

Leaving　one　company　to　protect　the　stockade　and　captured　cattle；　I　took
the　remaining　three　companies　and　the　gun；　and　extending　the　line　in
open　order；　with　skirmishers　thrown　out　in　front　and　the　gun　in　the
centre；　we　advanced　through　the　country。

A　large　river　bed；　now　almost　dry；　with　very　abrupt　banks；　lay　on　our
left。　The　wood　became　thinner；　and　we　suddenly　emerged　upon　a　broad；
open　valley　or　plain；　which　was　bounded　on　our　right　by　the　high
mountain　of　Belinian；　about　a　mile　and　a　half　distant。

The　plain　was　covered　with　villages；　and　the　entire　country　was　green
with　cultivation；　the　dhurra　being　then　about　two　feet　high。　The
gun…carriage　ran　easily　over　the　flat　ground；　and　we　advanced　rapidly
forward；　the　Baris　clearing　out　of　their　villages　and　gathering　on　our
flanks　as　we　approached。　A　shot　from　the　gun　sent　an　eight…pound　shell
which　exploded　in　the　air　above　a　group　about　700　yards　distant。　This
was　sufficient　notice　to　quit。　The　enemy　dared　not　stand　upon　open
ground；　thus；　after　we　had　driven　them　forward　for　about　two　miles。　we
faced　about　and　returned　to　the　stockade。

We　now　opened　the　gateway　and　drove　out　the　hungry　cattle。　They　looked
very　wild；　and　I　rather　feared　a　stampede；　it　was　necessary　to　leave
them　in　the　hands　of　our　two　allies；　Sherroom　and　Morgian；　as　the　cattle
neither　understood　Arabic　nor　the　manners　or　customs　of　the　Egyptians。
After　a　little　whistling　and　coaxing　in　the　Bari　language；　the　herd
started；　well　protected　by　troops　on　both　flanks；　and　an　advance　guard
at　150　paces'　distance。　The　rear　was　brought　up　by　the　gun　and　the
〃Forty　Thieves。〃

The　natives　appeared　to　be　under　the　impression　that　we　were　going　to
pass　the　night　at　the　zareeba；　thus　they　had　no　knowledge　of　our　start；
and　we　arrived　at　Gondokoro　and　entered　the　station　about　an　hour　after
sunset；　having　been　out　nineteen　hours。

I　now　learnt　that　the　Baris　of　Gondokoro　had　imagined　that　the　greater
portion　of　the　troops　had　gone　to　Belinian　for　an　excursion　of　some
days；　they　had　accordingly　beaten　their　big　drums　and　gathered　together
from　all　quarters　to　attack　the　camp；　but　discretion　overcame　their
valour　when　they　found　a　large　force　still　at　head…quarters。

On　June　9；　eight　vessels　of　Agad's　hove　in　sight；　and　with　a　fair　breeze
they　arrived　opposite　the　island　at　2。30　p。m。

Abou　Saood　was　in　one　of　these　vessels。

June　10；　Abou　Saood　presented　himself　to　me　this　morning。　His　vessels；
being　without　cargoes；　benefited　much　by　our　work　in　the　sudd。　He　found
all　our　cuttings　open；　therefore　he　had　no　difficulty　until　he　arrived
at　the　dam；　through　which　his　people　cut　a　passage。　The　great　rush　of
water　scoured　a　deep　channel；　and　his　squadron　of　light　vessels　came　on
without　difficulty。　I　ordered　Abou　Saood's　people　to　camp　on　the　west
bank　of　the　river；　as　I　did　not　wish　them　to　be　in　constant
communication　with　my　troops；　who　would　quickly　become　contaminated　by
their　morals。

The　news　brought　by　Abou　Saood　from　Khartoum　informed　me　of　the　death　of
Agad；　therefore　the　representation　of　the　firm　of　Agad　&　Co。　had　now
devolved　upon　Abou　Saood；　his　son…in…law。

I　now　heard　that　the　people　of　Abou　Saood；　who　numbered　about　500　men；
had　brought　with　them　a　large　herd　of　cattle　which　they　had　driven　along
the　west　bank　of　the　river；　thus　in　direct　defiance　of　the　government
authority；　he　had　made　a　razzia　upon　some　tribe　during　his　voyage；　and
he　had　not　scrupled　to　present　himself　to　me　with　the　herd　of　stolen
cattle　staring　me　in　the　face　on　the　other　side　of　the　water。

On　my　way　up　from　the　Bahr　Giraffe　I　had　left　a　Turkish　major；　Achmet
Rafik　Effendi；　with　a　corporal　and　five　men；　in　the　Shir　tribe；　about
forty　miles　from　Gondokoro；　with　a　friendly　sheik　named　Niambore。　This
sheik　was　the　tallest　and　most　powerful　man　that　I　ever　saw　in　Africa；
and　he　was　a　trustworthy　and　good　fellow。　He　had　promised　to　cultivate　a
farm　for　the　government；　therefore　I　had　given　him　ten　bushels　of　dhurra
for　seed；　and　I　had　left　with　him　at　his　request