ismailia-第40章

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beginning　to　chirp；　and　the　vultures　were　just　lazily　assembling　to　see
if　they　could　discover　one　more　morsel　at　the　slaughtering…place　of　the
preceding　day。

No　one　would　have　suspected　that　the　entire　neighbourhood　was　occupied
by　sharpshooters；　for　a　distance　of　some　miles。　The　wily　Baris　had
delighted　in　their　leopard…like　tactics；　which　had　given　them　several
opportunities　of　inflicting　loss　upon　the　troops。　They　now　commenced
their　daily　occupation；　and　started　in　small　but　numerous　parties　from
their　distant　villages；　for　the　purpose　of　waylaying　any　stragglers。　The
sun　rose；　and　with　my　telescope　I　observed　natives　about　half　a　mile
distant　on　the　other　side　of　the　river；　sometimes　these　people
disappeared　in　the　high　dhurra；　every　now　and　then　they　reappeared；　then
again　they　were　lost　to　view。　They　were　stealthily　approaching　for　the
purpose　of　occupying　their　positions　for　concealment。　These　wily　Baris
imagined　that　we　were；　as　usual；　keeping　on　the　alert　around　the　camp；
but　they　had　no　idea　that　the　leopard　was　himself　so　near　the　hidden
snare。

Suddenly　a　puff　of　white　smoke　shot　rip　from　the　bright　green　grass　on
the　other　side　of　the　river…bedthen　another；　followed　by　the　reports
of　two　rifles！　I　saw　natives　running　at　full　speed　to　the　left。　Another
and　another　puff　of　smoke　issued　from　a　different　quarter；　as　the
astonished　Baris　in　their　hasty　retreat　stumbled　over　the　next
ambuscade。　I　now　saw　a　native　running　like　a　deer；　but　chased　like　a
good　deerhound　by　one　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves。〃　The　native　was　so　hard
pressed　by　this　good　runner；　who　was　encumbered　with　clothes；　rifle；　and
ammunition；　that　he　had　been　obliged　to　throw　away　his　bow　and　arrows；
together　with　his　lance。　He　now　gained　upon　the　soldier　slightly；　but
they　were　not　five　paces　apart　when　they　disappeared　in　the　high　dhurra。
That　soldier　was　Ali　Nedjar；　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　the　strongest　man；
the　best　shot；　and　the　fleetest　runner　of　the　force。　Presently　I　heard　a
shot。

Throughout　that　day　occasional　shots　were　heard　in　every　conceivable
quarter。　I　took　a　walk　through　the　country；　attended　by　a　few　of　my　men；
and　upon　several　occasions　I　was　challenged　from　a　bush；　or　tump　of　high
grass；　showing　that　the　men　were　all　in　position　and　well　concealed。
When　the　bugle　recalled　the　sharpshooters　in　the　evening；　each　had　some
adventure　to　recount；　and　the　whole　camp　rejoiced　in　the　success　of　the
manoeuvre；　it　was　a　case　of　〃the　biter　bit。〃

The　men　now　looked　forward　to　this　employment；　and　starting　at　daybreak；
they　took　their　supply　of　food　for　the　day。

Some　of　them　were　very　clever　at　this　kind　of　service；　especially　Ali
Nedjar。　Ali　was　a　native　of　Bongoa　broad…shouldered；　muscular　fellow；
with　thighs　like　a　grasshopper。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　see　him　run；　and　to
witness　the　immense　power　and　speed　with　which　he　passed　all　competitors
in　the　prize　races；　in　which　I　sometimes　indulged　my　men。　Ali　Nedjar　was
a　good　soldier；　a　warm　lover　of　the　girls；　and　a　great　dancer；　thus；
according　to　African　reputation；　he　was　the　ne　plus　ultra　of　a　man。
Added　to　this；　he　was　a　very　willing；　good　fellow；　and　more　courageous
than　a　lion。

I　had　several　men　of　Ali　Nedjar's　stamp　in　〃The　Forty；〃　among　which　were
the　three　FerritchFerritch　Agha　Suachli；　Ferritch　Ajoke　（formerly
condemned　to　be　shot）；　and　Ferritch　Baggara；　and　it　may　be　easily
imagined　that　a　corps　composed　of　such　material　was　an　awkward　enemy　for
the　Baris。

After　a　few　days；　the　ground　became　almost　too　hot　for　the　natives。　They
now　ascended　high　trees；　from　which　they　could　survey　the　country　and
direct　the　movements　of　their　scouts。　Ali　Nedjar　was　too　much　for　them
even　with　this　precaution。　He　had　observed　them　like　rooks　in　a　large
tree　at　a　great　distance。　The　tree　grew　wild　in　a　field　of　high　dhurra；
and　while　the　wily　Baris　were　looking　out　from　their　lofty　post；
expecting　to　discover　us　in　the　distance；　the　still　more　wily　Ali　Nedjar
had　crept　on　hands　and　knees　through　the　corn；　and　was　actually　beneath
the　tree！

The　report　of　a　snider　rifle　under　their　feet；　and　the　fall　of　one　of
their　party；　was　the　first　intimation　they　received　of　the　soldier's
presence。

This　plan　of　occupying　the　country　was　most　successful；　and　in　a　short
time　the　Baris　entirely　abandoned　the　neighbourhood。　They　confessed
afterwards；　that　it　was　useless　to　attempt　to　fight　with　such　people；　as
the　earth　was　full　of　soldiers　who　sprang　up　out　of　the　ground　beneath
their　feet。

We　had　been　thirty…five　days　at　Belinian；　and　the　enemy　had　been
entirely　subdued。　I　explained　to　them　my　determination　of　paying　them
another　visit　should　we　ever　be　disturbed　again　at　Gondokoro；　thus　if
they　wished　for　peace；　they　must　remain　quiet。

The　soldiers　and　sailors；　including　all　the　women　of　the　camp；　were
employed　for　some　days　in　conveying　the　corn　to　head…quarters。　If　our
people　had　worked　well；　we　should　have　had　a　supply　for　twelve　months。
Instead　of　which；　a　force　of　650　men　had　actually　delivered　in　the
magazine　only　150　urdeps；　or　about　670　bushels。

I　have　naturally　omitted　many　military　incidents；　and　have　only　given　an
outline　of　the　Belinian　campaign；　but　the　moral　effect　was　good　on　all
sides。　The　soldiers　had　learnt　their　own　superiority　to　the　natives；　and
had　gained　experience　and　confidence；　and　the　Baris　of　Belinian　had
learnt　the　truth：　and　in　future　we　should　sleep　in　peace　at
head…quarters。


CHAPTER　XI。

SPIRIT　OF　DISAFFECTION。

The　amount　of　corn　collected　by　the　troops；　now　in　the　magazines；　was
only　sufficient　for　two　months'　consumption　at　full　rations。

There　was　a　spirit　of　general　disaffection　among　the　officers　and
troops。

Although　I　had　worked　with　them　in　every　difficulty　and　led　them
invariably　to　success；　there　was　a　general　dislike；　not　to　me
personally；　but　to　the　system　of　rigid　discipline　that　I　was　determined
at　all　hazards　to　enforce；　and　to　the　general　object　of　the　expedition。

Neither　officers　nor　men　could　understand　why；　during　open　war；　I　should
forbid　the　capture　of　women　and　children；　who；　by　all　Mohammedan　rules；
were　lawful　prizes！

It　was　not　slave…hunting：　they　were　simple　prisoners　of　war　that　God　had
delivered　into　their　hands；　and　it　was　a　hard　case　that；　after　all　the
trouble　and　difficulties　which　had　been　encountered；　they　should　be
debarred　from　taking　a　few　prisoners。

This　was　the　argument　of　the　military　force；　to　which；　had　I　yielded；
the　expedition　would　have　quickly　relapsed　into　the　original
slave…hunting　of　the　White　Nile；　which　I　was　bound　to　suppress。　I　have
already　described　the　direct　disobedience　of　the　officers　in　having
purchased　126　slaves　secretly　from　the　slave…hunters'　station　during　the
voyage。　A　slave　trade　would　quickly　spring　up　between　the　Khedive's
officers　and　the　slave…hunters　of　Abou　Saood；　unless　I　enforced　the
strictest　discipline。　The　expedition　would　represent　a　government　slave
market　for　the　reception　of　slaves　captured　by　the　Khartoum　companies。

It　may　easily　be　imagined；　that　my　determination　to　enforce　obedience　to
the　newly…instituted　reform　caused　bitter　disappointment　and　disgust。
The　government　I　had　established　afforded　justice　and　protection　to　all；
whether　freeman　or　slave。　I　had　not　interfered　with　the　slaves　that　had
been　the　property　of　officers　prior　to　my　taking　the　command　of　the
expedition；　these　remained　in　their　original　position；　with　the　simple
improvement；　that　they　could　not　be　ill…treated　with　impunity。

A　poor　little　Abyssinian　boy；　about　eleven　years　of　age；　had　one　day
crawled　through　the　high　river　grass　to　escape　the　observation　of　the
sentries；　and　suddenly　appeared　on　the　deck　of　my　diahbeeah　to　claim
protection。　He　was　streaming　with　blood；　and　had　been　shamefully
ill…used　by　his　master；　who　was　a　captain　in　the　Egyptian　regiment。　The
boy　demanded　his　freedom；　and　I　immediately　granted　his　release　（This
boy；　named　Amam；　was　a　great　example　to　others　in　his　general　good
conduct　and　integrity。　He　accompanied　us　throughout　the　subsequent
trials　of　the　expedition　with　much　devotion；　and　he　is　now　one　of　our
household　in　England）。

This　forfeiture　of　this　child　was　a　warning　that　had　an　excellent　effect
in　favour　of　the　slaves；　but　was　very　unpopular　among　the　force。

Although　I　regretted　the　ill　feeling　which　existed　on　all　sides；　I
considered　the　position　with　patience；　and　I　could　not　help　admitting
that　this　was　a　natural　and　inevitable　consequence　of　a　sudden　reform
which　threatened　so　many　interests。

At　the　same　time；　I　was　determined　to　carry　out　my　mission　without
shrinking　from　any　consequences。　I　was　ordered　to　suppress　the　slave
trade；　therefore　that　slave　trade　should　be　suppressed；　and　I　trusted
that　time　would　eventually　give　me　so　improved　a　control　over　the
feelings　of　my　people；　that　I　might　succeed　in　a　reform　and　yet　banish
all　ill…will。

In　the　midst　of　anxieties；　there　was　one　lasting　satisfaction　in　my
position。　I　had　the　power　to　execute　absolute　justice；　and　I　wished　for
no　other　reputation　among　my　people；　whether　slaves　or　freemen；　than　the
confidence　of　pure　equity　to　be　obtained　without　delay。　At　all　hours　I
was　accessible；　and　even　the　complaints　of　little　children　were　attended
to　with　the　same　attention　that　was　bestowed　upon　more　important
appeals。　I　hoped　by　this　line　of　conduct　to　be　able　at　length　to
incorporate　myself　with　the　expedition；　and　to　gain　the　affection　of　my
people；　without　which；　success　would　be　impossible。

The　terrible　absence　of　discipline　among　the　troops　was　a　great
difficulty；　but　I　had　already　improved　them　greatly。　Since　the　mutiny　of
the　black　division　at　Taka；　in　the　year　1865；　when　they　murdered　their
officers；　and　committed　many　atrocities；　the　Egyptian　officers　had
always　distrusted　them。

I　was　told　by　the　colonel；　Raouf　Bey；　that　if　a　black　soldier　were
punished；　his　comrades　would　probably　mutiny；　should　he　be　a　general
favourite。　The　extreme　laxity　of　discipline　was　the　result　of　a　want　of
vigour　on　the　part　of　the　officers。

At　the　commencement　of　the　Bari　war；　the　conduct　of　the　troops；　both
back　and　white；　was　disgraceful。　I　have　seen　them；　in　the　presence　of
the　enemy；　rush　into　a　village　and　commence　indiscriminate　pillage：　the
officers　mingled　with　their　men　in　a　race　for　plunder。　Several　soldiers
had　been　killed　by　the　natives　upon　such　occasions；　when　separated　from
the　rest　in　search　of　spoil。　The　colonel　had　assured　me　that　it　was
impossible　to　prevent　this　sacking　of　villages；　as　it　was　the　reward　the
troops　expected　after　a　victory。

Fortunately　my　model　corps；　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　were　always　with　me；
which　enabled　me　to　act　decidedly。　My　lieutenant…colonel；　Abd…el…Kader；
and　the　faithful　Monsoor；　were　ready　to　carry　out　my　orders　on　the　spot。

When　I　caught　the　troops　in　disorderly　pillage；　I　had　the　principal
actors　seized　and　laid　down　on　the　instant　in　the　centre　of　the　men；　and
administered　fifty　apiece　with　a　stout　bamboo。

The　Soudani　soldiers　quickly　perceived　that　the　reins　were　tighter　than
formerly；　and　I　followed　up　the　principle　of　stern　punishment　until　I
obtained　an　absolute　control；　without　the　slightest　attempt　at
resist