ismailia-第43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！


off。　I　instructed　Raouf　Bey　to　take　a　company　of　troops　with　the
vessels；　and　occupy　the　islands。　At　the　same　time；　I　marched　through　the
country　to　the　south；　and　having　passed　about　three　hours　in
exploration；　I　formed　two　stations　in　excellent　positions；　and　divided
my　men　equally　under　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet　and　Major　Abdullah。　These
stations　were　about　a　mile　apart；　upon　high　ground；　and　commanded　a　view
of　Raouf　Bey's　vessels；　that　were　already　anchored　at　the　island　about　a
mile　and　a　half　below　them。　The　three　positions　formed　a　triangle；　in
the　very　heart　of　the　greatest　abundance。

Having　concluded　these　arrangements　and　established　my　positions；　with
the　necessary　instructions　to　the　officers　in　command；　I　returned　to　the
river；　and　prepared　to　start　for　Gondokoro　in　the　little　dingy。　I　did
not　wish　to　take　a　large　vessel；　therefore　I　ordered　Raouf　Bey　to　fill
the　noggurs　with　corn　as　rapidly　as　possible；　and　to　start　them　off　when
full　to　Gondokoro。　The　granaries　on　the　islands　were　all　full；　and　close
to　the　banks；　therefore　the　vessels　lay　alongside；　as　though　in　a　dock；
and　could　load　with　great　ease。

I　started　in　the　dingy　with　two　boatmen　to　row；　accompanied　by　Monsoor
and　two　soldiers　of　〃The　Forty。〃

The　stream　ran　at　three　miles　and　a　half　per　hour：　thus；　with　good
pulling；　we　reached　head…quarters　in　one　hour　and　thirty…two　minutes；　a
distance　of　about　ten　miles　and　a　half。

I　believe　it　is　common　to　human　nature　to　love　to　carry　good　news。　The
sight　of　the　little　dingy　approaching　Gondokoro　alone；　had　given　rise　to
all　kinds　of　surmises；　and　when　I　reached　the　shore；　a　crowd　of
officers；　soldiers；　sailors；　and　women　were　standing　in　expectation　upon
the　cliff。　My　men　immediately　recounted　all　particulars。

Great　was　the　joy　of　the　English　party　at　the　news　of　our　success。　This
flew　through　the　station；　and　the　Egyptian　officers　and　soldiers　slunk
away；　whereas；　the　black　wives　of　the　Soudani　regiment　were　delighted；
as　they　did　not　wish　to　go　to　Khartoum。　These　women　were　slaves　that　I
had　liberated；　and　they　always　imagined　that　if　they　should　arrive　at
Khartoum；　they　would　be　sold。　This　home　influence　was　of　service　to　me。
In　conversation　with　my　〃Forty　Thieves〃　I　had　suggested；　that　perhaps　on
their　arrival　at　Khartoum；　the　government　might　not　permit　them　to
retain　so　many　wives　in　the　regiment。　The　Soudanis　are　always　happy　if
they　have　a　wife　and　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　therefore　Central　Africa
was　preferable　to　their　taste；　where　they　could　enjoy　domestic　bliss
with　a　young　wife；　instead　of　sitting　in　the　sultry　barracks　of　Khartoum
as　melancholy　bachelors。

I　now　determined　to　devote　myself　specially　to　the　work　of　collecting
corn。　I　therefore　placed　all　my　luggage　in　the　magazine；　cleared　out　the
diahbeeah；　and　towed　her　up　stream　from　my　little　station　to
head…quarters；　ready　to　start　on　the　following　day。

On　17th　October　I　started　at　6　a。m。；　and　reached　the　island　at　4　p。m。
There　I　found　Raouf　Bey；　and　the　vessels　that　I　had　left　in　his　charge。
He　had　only　occupied　one　island；　and　the　natives　were　hard　at　work
carrying　off　their　corn　from　the　islands　to　the　south。　I　immediately
sent　troops　to　take　possession。

On　18th　October　I　sent　Raouf　Bey　to　Gondokoro；　with　orders　to　despatch
to　Khartoum　all　the　really　sick　and　incapable；　but　upon　no　account　to
permit　any　man　to　return　unless　he　was　hopelessly　invalided。

On　19th　October；　having　noticed　that　the　stream　brought　down　numerous
stems　of　dhurra；　I　concluded　that　cultivated　islands　existed　further　up
the　river。　I　therefore　instructed　Lieutenant　Baker　to　sail　up　and
explore；　at　the　same　time　he　was　to　take　possession　should　such　islands
be　discovered。

On　21st　the　dingy　returned　with　a　letter　from　Lieutenant　Baker；　who　had；
with　only　ten　men　of　〃The　Forty；〃　driven　out　the　enemy；　and　occupied　an
island；　rich　in　corn；　further　south。　The　dingy　had　been　attacked　on　her
way　by　the　Baris；　who　had　shot　arrows；　all　of　which　had　fallen　short。　I
immediately　started　with　my　diahbeeah　and　reinforcements；　and　united
with　Lieutenant　Baker。　I　had　now　three　large　islands　in　possession。　The
fertility　of　the　soil　was　extraordinary。　The　cultivation　was　confined　to
the　rim　or　sides　of　the　islands；　as　the　centre　was　swampy　in　the　wet
season；　but　the　extreme　richness　of　the　soil　produced　the　heaviest
crops；　and　the　granaries　were　full　throughout　the　very　numerous　little
villages；　that　were　stationed　around　the　islands。

Having　worked　for　twelve　days；　during　which　time　numerous　vessels　had
enlivened　the　river　by　passing　to　and　fro　heavily　laden　with　corn；
between　our　granaries　and　Gondokoro；　I　received　notice　from　the　mainland
that　the　work　of　the　two　stations　under　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet　and
Major　Abdullah　was　concluded。　Achmet　had　thrashed　out　all　his　corn；　and
was　waiting　for　boats　to　convey　it；　and　Abdullah　had　shipped　all　that　he
had　collected；　and　was　waiting　for　orders。

I　sent　instructions；　that　Abdullah　should　march　his　detachment　along　the
mainland；　towards　the　south；　and　occupy　the　villages　on　the　high　land；
exactly　opposite　my　vessels。　The　country　was　beautifully　open；　like　a
fine　park；　in　long；　rolling　undulations；　which　terminated　in　rocky
hills；　about　four　or　five　miles　from　the　river。

On　24th　October；　having　loaded　a　line　of　vessels　that　lay　alongside　the
island　as　snugly　as　though　by　an　artificial　quay；　I　was　amusing　myself；
together　with　Lieutenant　Baker；　in　shooting　ducks；　which　swarmed　in　the
neighbouring　ponds　and　swamps。　At　about　4。30　p。m。　I　heard　rapid
file…firing　in　the　distance；　and　I　concluded　that　Major　Abdullah's
detachment；　that　was　hourly　expected；　was　attacked　by　the　natives。　I　at
once　returned　to　the　diahbeeah；　where　my　wife　was　stationed　on　the　high
poop…deck；　having　a　good　view　of　a　very　pretty　little　engagement。

The　troops　were　about　a　mile　distant；　and　while　steadily　on　the　march
according　to　my　instructions；　they　were　suddenly　attacked　by　the　natives
in　great　force。　This　was　a　fair　stand…up　fight　in　the　open。　The　big
drums　and　horns　were　sounding　throughout　the　country；　and　the　natives
were　pouring　from　all　directions　to　the　battle。

The　white　uniforms　of　the　soldiers　formed　a　strong　contrast　to　the　black
figures　of　the　naked　Baris；　thus　we　could　see　the　affair　distinctly。　We
could　also　hear　the　orders　given　by　bugle。

Major　Abdullah　had　prudently　secured　his　rear　by　the　occupation　of　one
of　the　small　villages；　fortified　by　a　hedge　of　impenetrable　euphorbia。
He　then　threw　out　skirmishers　in　line；　supported　by　the　force　that　held
the　village。　The　natives　were　yelling　in　all　directions；　and　I　never
before　saw　them　make　such　a　good　fight　upon　the　open　ground。　They　not
only　outflanked；　but　entirely　surrounded　Abdullah's　detachment　of　ninety
men。　The　troops　were　keeping　up　a　heavy　fire；　which　did　not　appear　to
produce　any　decided　result；　as　the　natives　thronged　to　the　fight　and
advanced　close　up　to　the　fire　of　the　soldiers；　whom　they　attacked　with
bows　and　arrows。

I　ordered　our　solitary　field…piece　to　be　dismounted；　and　placed　in　the
large　rowing…boat；　together　with　a　rocket…trough；　and　the　requisite
ammunition；　in　readiness　to　support　Abdullah　with　a　flank　attack　upon
the　natives；　by　crossing　the　river；　should　it　be　necessary。　As　our
vessels　were　in　close　view；　I　waited　for　the　signal　by　bugle　should
Abdullah　require　assistance。

I　had　only　twenty…two　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　with　me；　together　with
the　eight　artillerymen　belonging　to　the　gun。　The　remainder　of　〃The
Forty〃　were　holding　the　second　island；　about　four　miles　in　our　rear。

Just　before　dark；　I　noticed　that　the　Baris　were　giving　way：　they　had
evidently　suffered　some　loss；　which　caused　a　sudden　retreat。　I　heard　the
bugle　sound　〃the　advance；〃　and　we　could　see　the　troops　advancing　and
firing　in　pursuit。　The　Baris　ceased　blowing　their　horns；　and　collected
in　dense　bodies　at　a　great　distance　from　the　troops；　who　had　halted　and
now　held　the　position。

Only　occasional　shots　were　now　fired；　and　the　sun　having　set；　darkness
gradually　dissolved　the　view。

I　fully　expected　that　the　Baris　would　renew　the　attack　during　the　night；
but　I　knew　that　Abdullah　was　safe　in　his　strong　position　within　a
village；　surrounded　by　the　high　and　dense　hedge　of　euphorbia；　the　thick；
fleshy　branches　of　this　tree　are　the　best　protection　against　arrows。　I
ordered　the　boat　with　the　gun　to　remain　in　readiness；　so　as　to　start　at
a　moment's　notice　should　we　hear　firing　renewed　during　the　night。　I
should　then　be　able　to　land　the　gun；　and　take　them　unexpectedly　on　the
flank　with　case　shot。

Morning　broke　without　any　night　alarm。　I　had　filled　the　vessels　with　the
last　of　the　corn　upon　the　island；　therefore　I　determined　to　cross　over
with　my　force；　and　to　meet　the　detachment　under　Major　Abdullah。　This　was
not　easy　to　accomplish；　as　there　were　some　awkward　sand…banks　in　the
middle　of　the　river。　It　was　therefore　necessary　to　pass　up　stream
between　two　islands；　and　then；　by　rounding　the　head　of　a　point；　to
descend　through　a　channel　about　a　hundred　yards　wide　between　the　western
island　and　the　mainland。　This　occupied　about　an　hour；　and　we　dropped
down　the　channel　and　took　up　an　excellent　position　against　a　high　shore
that　formed　a　convenient　landing…place。　From　this　point　the　land　rose
rapidly；　and　the　entire　landscape　was　covered　with　villages　abounding　in
corn。　The　natives　appeared　to　have　deserted　the　country。

Having　given　the　necessary　orders；　I　took　my　shot　gun；　and；　accompanied
by　Lieutenant　Baker；　Monsoor；　and　two　soldiers　of　〃The　Forty；〃　I　walked
along　the　river's　bank　towards　the　village　occupied　by　Major　Abdullah's
detachment；　who　I　imagined　might　have　found　a　large　quantity　of　corn；
which　accounted　for　their　delay　in　commencing　the　morning　march。

There　were　great　numbers　of　ducks　and　geese　on　the　river's　bank：　thus　as
we　walked　towards　Abdullah's　village；　about　a　mile　and　a　half　distant；
we　made　a　tolerable　bag。

We　had　at　length　arrived　within　half　a　mile　of　the　village；　which　was
situated　upon　high　ground；　about　600　yards　from　the　river；　when　I
noticed　a　number　of　people　issuing　from　the　gate　way　carrying　large
baskets　upon　their　heads。

〃The　soldiers　have　found　plenty　of　corn；〃　remarked　Monsoor；　〃they　are
carrying　it　from　the　googoos。〃

My　eyes　were　better　than　Monsoor's。　I　at　once　perceived　that　the　people
thus　employed　were　Baris！

We　were　only　five　guns；　now　separated　from　our　vessels　by　about　a　mile；
and　the　troops　under　Major　Abdullah　had　evidently　evacuated　their
position！

Where　upon　earth　had　they　gone？　and　for　what　reason？　Certainly　we　had
the　river　on　our　right　flank；　but　we　might　have　been　attacked　and　cut
off　from　our　vessels；　had　the　Baris　the　pluck　to　assume　the　offensive。

It　was　time　to　retreat；　but　as　I　wished　the　Baris　to　believe　that　we
felt　quite　at　our　ease；　we　accomplished　the　move　very　leisurely；　and
strolled　quietly　homewards；　shooting　ducks　and　snipe　as　we　walked　along。

The　moment　I　arrived　at　the　vessels；　I　despatched　a　party　in　the
steamer's　large　boat；　under　Captain　Mohammed　Deii；　of　the　〃Forty
Thieves；〃　to　row　down　the　river；　and　to　recall　Abdullah's　detachment；
that　must　have　retreated