ismailia-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


he　had　been　only　used　as　a　cat's…paw）；　that　he　was　determined　not　to
return　home　empty…handed。　He　therefore　revenged　himself　upon　his　allies；
and　captured　about　2；000　head　of　cattle　from　Belinian；　with　which　he
returned　to　his　mountains　two　days'　distant。

On　the　day　following　my　interview　with　the　sheik　of　the　mountain；
〃Wani；〃　I　received　information　which　made　me　suspect　that　he　was　not　the
real　sheik；　and　that　some　trick　was　intended。

Once　more　I　was　waited　upon　by　old　Jarda；　with　his　female　minister　of
foreign　affairs；　in　company　with　Wani；　the　reputed　sheik　of　the
mountain；　together　with　a　number　of　headmen。

I　now　received　a　direct　proposal　to　form　a　general　alliance。　The
Belinian　Baris　declared　allegiance　to　the　government；　and　proposed　to
join　all　their　forces　to　make　a　great　attack；　in　conjunction　with　the
troops；　upon　a　country　about　sixteen　miles　distant；　governed　by　a　sheik
named　Lokko。　They　described　this　country　as　abounding　in　corn；　and
sesame；　in　addition　to　great　wealth　in　cattle。　They　also　declared　that
they　had　already　sent　spies　into　the　land；　who　had　returned　with　the
news　that　the　harvest　was　over；　and　all　the　grain　was　stowed　in　the
granaries；　thus　the　troops　would　have　no　trouble　in　collecting　the　corn。

They　also　promised　that　if　I　would　make　the　attack；　they　would　collect
all　their　women　and　transport　the　corn　to　head…quarters　at　Gondokoro；
thus　the　soldiers　would　have　no　fatigue。　At　the　same　time　they　described
the　people　of　Lokko　as　very　powerful；　and　declared　that　I　should　require
nearly　all　my　force；　as　very　few　troops　would　be　now　necessary　to
protect　my　camp　at　Belinian；　as　we　WERE　ALL　FRIENDS！

This　kind　regard　for　my　military　arrangements　confirmed　my　suspicions。　
It　was　intended　to　draw　off　the　greater　portion　of　the　troops　to　a
distance；　in　company　with　the　pretended　allies。　The　attack　was　really　to
be　made　on　Lokko；　but　my　troops　were　also　to　be　overpowered　when
unsuspectingly　returning　by　a　night　march　with　the　spoil。　The　cattle
captured　from　Lokko　would　then　fall　into　the　hands　of　Belinian；　and　my
camp；　protected　by　a　weak　force；　was　to　be　surprised。

I　pretended　to　enter　into　this　scheme；　but　I　expressed　a　doubt　whether
they　would　perform　their　part　of　the　engagement；　and　convey　the　corn
from　Lokko　to　Gondokoro。　This　they　declared　emphatically　they　would　do
without　failing。

I　proposed；　that　if　they　could　convey　such　an　enormous　quantity　so　great
a　distance　from　Lokko　to　Gondokoro；　they　should　first　prove　their
fidelity　by　transporting　the　few　hundred　urdeps　from　our　Belinian　camp
to　head…quarters。　If　they　would　assist　us　in　this　manner；　they　should　be
paid　for　their　trouble；　and　I　should　then　believe　in　their　sincerity。　On
the　other　hand；　if　they　refused；　I　should　be　perfectly　certain　that　they
would　also　decline　to　transport　the　corn　from　Lokko；　and　that　every
individual　would　merely　scramble　for　spoil；　and　return　to　Belinian　with
a　load　of　plunder　for　his　own　use。

We　should　then　be　left　at　Lokko　in　a　foolish　position。

After　much　discussion；　they　promised　to　carry　the　corn　to　Gondokoro
before　commencing　operations　against　Lokko；　but　I　at　once　perceived　by
their　manner；　that　they　had　not　the　slightest　intention　of　performing
any　such　contract。　They　felt　that　their　scheme　had　been　found　out。

Although　Africans　are　notoriously　cunning　and　treacherous；　they　have　not
sufficient　patience　or　self…sacrifice　to　enable　them　to　carry　out　a
perfect　scheme。　If　the　Belinians　had　wished　to　succeed　in　their　plan；
they　should　have　willingly　carried　the　corn　to　Gondokoro；　and　thus　have
established　confidence。　In　all　my　experience　with　African　tribes；　I　have
observed　this　want　of　organization　in　their　plans。　Like　ignorant
chess…players；　they　only　think　of　the　first　few　moves；　and　thus　are　at　a
loss　when　suddenly　checked。

Of　course　I　had　no　intention　of　attacking　Lokko；　as　I　had　no　complaint
against　him；　and　although　a　Bari；　he　was　a　chief　who　had　always　behaved
well　to　the　Austrian　missionaries。　This　portion　of　the　Bari　tribe；
instead　of　being　sixteen　miles；　was　at　least　thirty　from　the　north　of
Belinian；　and　was　situated　on　the　White　Nile；　where　the　sheik；　Lokko；
was　known　to　the　traders　as　〃Oom　Nickla。〃

The　following　extracts　from　my　journal　will　at　once　explain　the　state　of
affairs。　The　natives　had　lost　their　chance；　and　feeling　that　their
treachery　had　been　discovered；　they　never　came　to　me　again：

〃September　22；　1871。No　natives　will　come　near　us。　　Abou　Saood　arrived
with　forty　men　to　ask　my　permission　that　he　might　start　for　Khartoum。

〃September　23。The　natives；　disappointed　in　their　trick；　will　have
nothing　to　say　to　us。〃

On　the　25th　September　the　natives　treacherously　attacked　an　unarmed
soldier。　This　man　had　strayed　a　few　hundred　yards　from　the　camp；　against
orders；　to　search　for　wild　thyme。　A　native　met　him　and　accosted　him　by
the　welcome　〃Adotto　julio。〃　The　soldier　advanced　close；　when　the
treacherous　Bari　immediately　shot　an　arrow　into　him。　This　passed　through
his　arm　with　such　force　that　more　than　half　the　length　of　the　arrow
protruded　on　the　other　side。　The　soldier　shouted　for　help；　and　the　Bari
decamped　as　he　saw　others　running　to　the　rescue。

On　the　same　day；　two　women　were　attacked　when　they　went　to　fetch　water；
and　their　clothes　were　stolen　by　the　natives。

On　September　27；　an　artilleryman　went　to　the　river　about　400　yards
distant　to　fetch　water；　alone。　This　was　quite　contrary　to　orders。　The
thoughtless　fellow　left　his　musket　on　the　bank　while　he　descended　to　the
sandy　bed；　through　which　trickled　a　clear　stream。

He　was　watched　by　the　natives　who　were　lying　in　wait；　concealed　by　the
high　dhurra。　These　rascals　suddenly　rushed　out　and　speared　him　to　death。
The　man　screamed　so　loudly　before　he　died；　that　a　number　of　soldiers
rushed　to　his　assistance　from　the　camp；　but　they　were　only　in　time　to
bring　in　his　body。

This　was　at　4　P。M。；　and　I　observed　natives　armed；　who　were　hovering
about　on　all　sides。

I　sounded　the　bugle；　and　attacked　them　without　delay；　destroying　several
stockades。　It　is　impossible　to　come　to　any　terms　with　such　treacherous
people。　In　spite　of　my　kindness　and　wish　to　do　good　and　to　benefit　their
country；　they　requite　me　with　the　murder　of　any　unarmed　man　whom　they
can　find。

〃September　29。I　attacked　a　position　on　the　mountain。　Having　fired
several　rockets　from　the　base；　into　a　station　about　350　feet　above；　I
ordered　the　troops　to　advance　from　two　sides。　My　men　scrambled　quickly
up　the　rocks　and　destroyed　the　station。

〃September　30。A　few　days　ago；　the　soldiers　purposely　burnt　several
granaries　full　of　corn；　and　threatened　to　kill　Sherroom　and　Morgian；　my
Bari　interpreters；　if　they　should　report　the　act　to　me；　saying；　'If　the
corn　is　finished；　we　shall　all　go　back　to　Khartoum。'〃

〃This　proves　that　the　old　spirit　against　the　expedition　still　exists。　
The　men　take　their　cue　from　the　officers。〃

In　spite　of　the　general　discontent；　I　could　place　the　greatest　reliance
upon　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　and　their　officers。　This　little　corps　performed
nearly　all　the　active　service。　Their　red　shirts　had　become　so　well
known；　that　the　colour　was　enough　to　keep　the　natives　at　a　distance；　but
although　the　Baris　were　now　afraid　to　risk　a　stand…up　fight；　they
troubled　us　by　their　stealthy　tactics。　It　was　impossible　to　say　where
they　were　concealed。　They　were　spread　all　over　the　country：　some　hidden
in　the　tall　dhurra；　others　behind　bushes。　Their　favourite　place　was　in
the　grass　and　scattered　bush　on　the　banks　of　the　river；　where　they　lay
in　wait　for　any　unlucky　soldier　whose　disobedience　of　orders　led　him　to
tempt　his　fate。

It　seemed　almost　as　impossible　to　clear　the　country　of　these　people；　as
to　purge　Africa　from　snakes。　Patrols　were　of　little　service；　as　the
natives　lay　as　closely　concealed　as　hares　in　form。

I　determined　at　length　to　meet　them　with　their　own　tactics：

They　occupied　the　neighbourhood　in　ambush。　。　。I　would　also　lie　in
ambush。　This　system　of　ambuscade　employed　so　generally　by　the　Baris　had
created　a　wholesome　alarm　among　the　troops；　which　tended　to　obedience。
They　now　began　to　appreciate　the　orders　that　no　one　should　stray　alone
from　the　camp；　and　that　the　watering　party　should　consist　of　a　powerful
guard。　At　the　same　time；　the　surprises　that　had　occurred　had　somewhat
shaken　their　confidence。

I　called　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　together。　　These　fine　fellows　always　took
a　great　interest　in　their　work。

I　explained　to　them　the　difficulty　of　fighting　against　an　enemy　whose
tactics　would　not　permit　a　battle；　at　the　same　time；　I　should　now
operate　against　them　somewhat　upon　their　own　principle；　by　establishing
a　series　of　sharpshooters　who　should　occupy　the　neighbourhood；　and
render　it　impossible　for　the　Baris　to　remain　in　the　country。

My　corps　was　now　complete；　as　I　had　brought　up　those　who　had　remained　at
Gondokoro；　I　had　thus　forty…eight　officers　and　men。　To　this　force　I　now
added　fifty　selected　men　from　the　line；　and　marched　them　away　from　camp。

Upon　arrival　at　the　broad　bed　of　the　river；　I　explained　to　them　the
plan。　The　natives　generally　approached　unperceived　by　means　of　this
winding　trench；　which　entirely　concealed　them。　The　banks　of　this　river
were　in　most　places　nearly　perpendicular；　and　were　about　nine　feet　deep。
The　river　was　about　sixty　or　seventy　paces　broad；　and　was　nearly　dry；　as
a　very　shallow　stream　flowed　through　the　centre　of　its　bed。

If　the　high　banks　were　occupied　for　a　distance　of　several　miles　by　small
parties　of　sharpshooters　concealed　in　high　dhurra；　or　behind　an
ant…hill；　or　crouched　in　high　grass　or　bush；　or　in　anything　that　would
serve　as　a　protection；　it　would　be　impossible　for　the　Baris　to　approach
by　the　favourite　river…bed；　without　being　exposed　to　a　deadly　fire　from
the　long　line　of　sentries。

I　therefore　selected　a　position　commencing　far　beyond　my　line　of　posts；
and　entirely　commanding　the　river…bed　for　a　distance　of　several　miles。
The　soldiers　were　delighted　with　the　plan　suggested。　I　arranged　that
before　daylight　on　the　following　morning；　they　should　occupy　the
positions　assigned　in　parties　of　two　men　if　sniders；　or　three　if
muskets；　at　intervals　of　one　hundred　paces；　thus　the　country　would　be
protected　by　a　chain　of　guards　perfectly　concealed　from　view。

I　gave　orders　to　the　officers　commanding　the　two　stockades　to　carry　out
this　system　throughout　the　neighbourhood；　so　that　it　would　be　impossible
for　any　enemy　to　move　without　falling　into　an　ambuscade。

At　daybreak　I　was　up；　and　as　usual　drank　my　coffee　and　smoked　the
morning　pipe。　At　that　time　my　wife　and　I　occupied　a　tent　outside　the
stockade；　beneath　the　most　magnificent　tamarind…tree　that　I　have　ever
seen。　From　this　spot　we　had　a　clear　view　of　the　country。　On　the　west　of
the　plain；　two　miles　distant；　rose　the　mountain　of　Belinian。　On　the　east
was　park…like　land　interspersed　with　fine　ornamental　timber；　through
which　the　river　winded。　For　about　a　hundred　acres　around　the　camp；　the
high　dhurra　had　been　cut　down；　therefore　the　view　was　uninterrupted。

Everything　was　perfectly　still　at　this　early　hour；　the　birds　were　only
beginning　to　chirp；　and　the　vultures　were　just　lazily　assembling　to　see
if　they　could　d