ismailia-第35章

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several　excellent　examples　of　good　soldiers　in　〃The　Forty；〃　among　whom
stood　first　Mohammed…el…Feel；　sergeant　of　the　body…guard。　The　latter
comprised　ten　men；　selected　from　〃The　Forty〃　as　creme　de　la　creme；
these　men　were　exempted　from　all　labour；　and　they　formed　the　guard　of
two　sentries　by　night；　and　one　by　day。

The　discipline　of　this　picked　corps〃Abd…el…Kader　and　the　Forty
Thieves〃was　the　commencement　of　a　great　moral　reform；　that　resulted　in
an　improved　tone　throughout　the　force；　which　ultimately　did　the　great
work　of　the　expedition。

The　efficiency　of　〃The　Forty〃　was　an　established　fact　of　what　could　be
accomplished　where　officers　and　men　were　governed　by　that　peculiar
confidence　that　bound　them　together　as　one　man。　Throughout　the
expedition；　after　this　confidence　had　been　once　established；　I　never　for
an　instant　doubted　the　fidelity　of　my　men；　they　would　have　followed　me
through　fire　or　water；　without　the　slightest　hesitation。　In　action；　〃The
Forty〃　were　always　in　advance；　and　they　were　watched　with　eagerness　and
even　pride　by　the　other　regiments：　when　thrown　out　as　skirmishers　they
climbed　rocks；　pushed　through　jungles；　and　cleared　the　enemy　from　the
country　with　irresistible　activity。　Promotion　from　the　line　to　〃The
Forty〃　was　considered　as　an　honour；　and　so　perfect　was　the　esprit　de
corps；　that　in　the　event　of　a　vacancy　being　caused　by　sickness；　or　other
cause；　the　men　reported　to　me　the　character　of　the　new…comer　before　he
was　admitted；　and　respectfully　declined　to　receive　him　if　he　bore　a
doubtful　reputation；　virtually　he　was　〃black…balled。〃

A　corps　of　this　character　was　a　nucleus　for　an　extension　of　military
morality。　The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　would　not　admit　a　thief；　and　they　became
generally　accepted　as　a　model　of　what　government　soldiers　should　become。

I　believe　that　if　it　were　possible　to　convert　the　greater　portion　of
African　savages　into　disciplined　soldiers；　it　would　be　the　most　rapid
stride　towards　their　future　civilization。　The　fact　of　obedience　being
enforced；　and　the　necessity　of　order；　industry；　and　discipline；　together
with　clothing　and　cleanliness；　is　all　that　is　absolutely　required　to
bring　a　savage　within　the　bounds　of　good　management。　A　savage　who　has
led　a　wild　and　uncontrolled　life　must　first　learn　to　obey　authority
before　any　great　improvement　can　be　expected。　A　soldier　must　obey；　and
he　learns　to　respect　his　officers　as　his　superiors；　thus；　a　savage　who
has　learnt　all　that　he　knows　from　his　officers；　whom　he　admits　as　his
superiors；　will　quickly　adopt　their　religion；　as　he　has　been　obliged　to
adopt　their　military　rules。　My　soldiers　were　all　Mohammedans；　simply
because　they　had　been　taught　by　their　officers　that　good　soldiers　should
be　true　believers。

As　I　have　already　described；　my　station　was　a　mile　and　a　half　distant
from　head…quarters；　and　the　arrangements　under　my　personal　inspection
were　very　different　from　the　lax　discipline　of　the　officers　at
Gondokoro。

The　natives　of　Belinian　had　disregarded　the　warning　they　had　received；
and　now；　having　leagued　themselves　with　the　Baris　of　Gondokoro；　they
were　constantly　on　the　watch　for　an　opportunity　of　surprising　the　cattle
guards。　Concealing　themselves　behind　thick　foliage；　they　stalked　the
careless　sentries　with　the　adroitness　of　American　Indians；　and　sometimes
succeeded　in　making　a　dash　and　driving　off　a　few　head　of　cattle。

I　was　obliged　to　take　extra　precautions　during　the　night；　as　my　little
station　was　dependent　only　upon　〃The　Forty；〃　while　the　camp　at
head…quarters　was　occupied　by　1；100　men；　in　addition　to　about　400
sailors；　and　the　six　Englishmen。

The　natives　disturbed　us　every　night；　and　were　constantly　fired　at　by
the　sentries。　I　served　out　cartridges　containing　eight…mould　shot；　each
to　be　rammed　down　over　the　ball　in　the　muskets　for　the　night　sentries：
these　would　be　more　likely　to　hit　a　thief　in　the　dark　than　a　single
bullet。　The　muskets　were　given　to　the　sentries　in　addition　to　their
rifles。

I　placed　my　men　every　night；　concealed　by　cover　so　as　to　command　the
various　approaches。　The　station　was　conveniently　situated；　as　a　large
and　deep　lake　completely　defended　the　north　flank　for　a　distance　of
about　400　yards。　The　river　defended　the　east　face：　thus　we　were　only
open　on　two　sides；　one　of　which　was　commanded　by　the　camp　of　〃The
Forty。〃

On　28th　June　it　rained　steadily　during　the　night。　The　Baris　considered
that　our　sentries　would　be　under　cover；　or　would　most　likely　not　expect
an　attack；　they　therefore　resolved　to　attempt　a　surprise。　Their　advanced
scouts　approached　warily　in　the　dark；　but　long　before　they　had　reached
the　sentries；　they　passed　within　a　few　feet　of　a　party　of　guards
concealed　behind　a　white…ant　hill。　A　shot　from　a　musket　stretched　one
Bari　dead。　The　guards　pounced　upon　another　and　seized　him　by　the　throat。
This　was　a　native　of　Belinian；　he　was　accordingly　hanged　on　the
following　morning　to　a　tree　in　the　pathway　by　which　the　Belinian　Baris
arrived　through　the　forest　to　attack　the　camp。　This　it　was　hoped　would
be　a　warning　that　might　deter　others。　（Throughout　the　expedition　this
was　the　only　native　who　was　hanged。　Neither　was　any　native　shot　or
otherwise　executed　when　taken　prisoner；　except　a　spy　at　Belinian。）

On　5th　July　the　natives　made　an　attempt　on　the　cattle；　and　shot　a　sentry
with　an　arrow。

On　7th　July　the　Baris　attacked　the　camp　during　the　night。

On　8th　July　I　sent　a　company　to　take　possession　and　to　hold　the　island。
They　met　the　natives；　and　Monsoor　and　Achmet　Bash　Choush　had　a　narrow
escape　from　lances。　The　Baris　lost　three　killed　and　two　prisoners。

On　that　day　the　river　rose　four　feet　six；　which　was　the　highest　flood
during　the　wet　season。

On　10th　July；　at　mid…day；　several　hundred　Baris；　having　cautiously
approached　the　grazing　cattle　unobserved；　made　a　sudden　rush　from　the
bushes　upon　the　guards；　killing　one　soldier　and　wounding　another。　The
soldiers　belonged　to　the　line；　and　must　have　behaved　badly；　as　the
musket　and　cartouche…box　and　belt　were　stolen　and　carried　off　from　the
dead　man。　The　shots　from　the　guard　immediately　alarmed　the　camp。　The
horses　were　saddled；　and；　attended　by　Lieutenant　Baker；　I　rode　hard　in
pursuit。　The　natives　had　gained　the　forest　and　had　scattered；　but　we
rode　a　red…painted　savage　to　bay；　who　fought　to　the　last；　shooting　two
arrows　at　me；　which　I　avoided　by　dropping　quickly　on　my　horse's　neck；
and　a　third　arrow　stuck　deeply　in　Mr。　Baker's　saddle　as　he　escaped　the
well…aimed　shot　by　spurring　his　horse　across　the　line　of　sight。　These
arrows　were　shot　at　a　distance　of　a　very　few　yards。　The　native　was
killed。

On　12th　July　the　Baris　attempted　to　surprise　both　my　station　and　the
camp　at　head…quarters。

On　the　13th　the　natives　repeated　the　attempt；　but　one　was　shot　dead　by
the　sentry　at　Gondokoro；　also　another　met　the　same　fate　at　my　station。

Nearly　every　night　we　were　subject　to　attempts　at　surprise。　This　was
excellent　practice　for　the　troops；　as　it　taught　them　the；　necessity　of
keeping　a　good　look…out；　at　the　same　time　it　was　very　wearying；　as　the
men　had　to　work　hard　all　day；　and　they　were　kept　awake　at　night。

The　Baris　were　irrepressible　vermin　that　gave　us　no　rest。　My　men　were
all　occupied　in　building　the　station；　therefore　it　was　impossible　for　me
to　take　a　flying　column　and　give　the　Baris　a　severe　lesson；　but　I　made
up　my　mind　that　when　the　work　should　be　finished；　I　would　take　the　fight
out　of　them　most　thoroughly。　They　now　considered　us　fair　game；　that　they
might　insult　as　they　thought　proper；　and　I　heard　from　our　two　faithful
allies；　Sherroom　and　Morgian；　that　they　imagined　we　should　become　afraid
of　them；　and　then　return　to　Khartoum。

They　teased　us　at　night　like　rats；　but　they　lost　many　men。　I　rather
admired　them　for　their　persistence；　as　the　scouts　must　have　been
adventurous　fellows。　Whenever　these　people　were　taken　prisoners；　they
confessed　that　they　were　the　spies　of　the　main　body　that　was　concealed
at　some　distance　in　the　rear。　The　favourite　method　of　a　Bari　attack　is
during　the　night；　when　the　darkness　reduces　the　danger　of　fire…arms。　On
such　occasions　they　generally　halt　either　in　forest　or　high　grass；
according　to　circumstances；　about　half　a　mile　from　the　camp　they　propose
to　attack。　Scouts　are　sent　forward　to　ascertain　the　position　and
vigilance　of　sentries　before　the　advance　of　the　main　body。　The　scouts；
being　quite　naked；　crawl　upon　their　hands　and　knees　until　the　darkness
permits　them　to　approach　within　a　few　yards　of　the　sentries。　They　then
lie　flat　upon　their　bellies　unobserved　until　they　can　retreat　to　the
expectant　body　in　their　rear。

The　attacking　force　now　advances　in　perfect　silence；　and　approaching
upon　hands　and　knees　in　the　same　manner　as　the　scouts；　they　suddenly
spring　upon　the　sentries；　and　with　wild　yells　make　a　general　rush　upon
the　camp。　This　sudden　attack　would　be　extremely　dangerous　unless
provided　against；　and　in　this　manner　large　parties　of　the　slave…hunters
have　been　completely　destroyed。

Our　passive　resistance　to　the　numerous　native　attempts　at　surprise　had
been　misconstrued　by　the　Baris　into　timidity。　The　news　had　spread
throughout　the　country　that　we　should　not　venture　far　inland：　thus　a
grand　alliance　had　been　made　among　the　tribes。　The　Baris　desired　to　make
friends　with　their　powerful　enemy；　the　Loquia：　they　accordingly　invited
this　tribe　to　form　an　alliance　and　to　join　in　a　combined　attack　upon
Gondokoro；　by　which　means　they　hoped　to　overpower　and　destroy　our　force；
and　to　become　possessed　of　many　thousand　cattle　which　were　now　at
head…quarters。

The　Loquia　consented；　thus　we　were　exposed　to　a　grand　coalition。　In　the
mean　time　Abou　Saood　and　his　people；　in　their　camp　on　the　west　side　of
the　river；　continued　to　be　most　friendly　with　the　enemies　of　the
government；　and　supplied　the　Belinian　natives　with　ammunition。

At　1。30。　a。m。；　on　July　21；　I　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　firing　at
head…quarters。

I　was　dressed　and　armed　in　a　few　minutes。　The　bugle　sounded　the　alarm；
and　〃The　Forty〃　fell　into　position。

I　heard　the　bugles　at　head…quarters；　together　with　a　confused　din　of
native　drums；　horns；　and　yells。　The　first　shots　had　appeared　to　proceed
from　the　sentries；　but　these　were　shortly　succeeded　by　heavy　file…firing
from　the　whole　force　at　the　camp。　An　attack　had　evidently　been　made；　and
a　regular　fight　was　going　on：　it　was　therefore　to　be　expected　that　my
small　force　would　soon　have　to　act　on　the　defensive。　Spare　ammunition
was　quickly　in　readiness；　and　we　were　well　prepared。

In　the　mean　time；　a　general　action　was　growing　hotter　every　moment；　the
yells　of　the　natives　and　the　din　of　their　horns　became　louder。　I　was
momentarily　expecting　to　hear　the　sound　of　cannon；　and　I　was　speculating
upon　the　effect　that　the　fire　of　ten　guns　loaded　with　case　shot　would
have　among　such　a　crowd　of　enemies；　but　to　my　astonishment　not　a　gun　was
fired。　Simply　the　roll　of　musketry　continued。

In　about　half　an　hour　the　native　yells　grew　fainter；　the　noise　of　their
horns　and　drums　was　reduced；　and　the　heavy　firing　dwindled　to　dropping
shots。　I　heard　the　bugles　sound　〃cease　firing。〃　I　then　heard　〃the
advance。〃　Again　firing　commenced；　this　time　in　volleys；　then　I　heard
once　more　〃ce