ismailia-第45章

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the　red　sheik　rolled　over。　The　yells　increased　on　all　sides；　the
whistles　of　the　antelopes'　horns　now　sounded　a　shrill　alarm；　during
which　the　leading　Baris　shot　off　their　arrows；　but　they　fell　short。

Another　quick　shot　cracked　upon　the　body　of　a　native；　who　was　caught　in
the　arms　of　his　comrades　and　dragged　away　as　they　precipitately
retreated　in　all　directions　from　the　dangerous　locality。

My　men　now　begged　me　to　allow　them　to　charge　and　to　capture　the　man；　who
was　endeavouring　to　escape。　I　gave　them　leave；　and　a　body　of　fifteen
dashed　out　in　pursuit；　with　loud　yells；　after　the　retreating　natives。
For　about　a　minute　the　natives　faced　them　and　shot　their　arrows；　but　the
gallant　fifteen　coolly　knelt　upon　the　clear　ground；　and　taking　steady
rests　upon　their　knees；　opened　a　fire　that　drove　the　enemy　before　them。
The　fifteen　immediately　charged　forward　and　bayoneted　a　fugitive；　and
returned　with　his　bow　and　arrows　in　triumph。

The　enemy　had　quickly　the　worst　of　it。　They　were　now　standing　in　all
directions　at　distances　varying　from　400　to　1；000　paces。　Many　of　them
were　actually　in　our　rear；　but　I　noticed　that　these　fellows　were　already
opening　to　the　right　and　left；　as　though　they　faltered　in　their
determination　to　resist　our　retreat　to　the　vessels。

The　Baris　would　not　stand　in　the　open　ground　before　the　sniders。

The　ground　was　dry　and　dusty；　thus　each　bullet　marked　its　bit　as　the
puff　of　dust　rose　from　the　earth；　like　a　jet　of　smoke。

Some　of　the　enemy　were　knocked　over　at　very　long　ranges；　others　were　so
scared　by　the　close　practice；　as　the　bullets　either　struck　the　ground　at
their　feet；　or　pinged　close　to　their　ears；　that　they　cleared　off　as
quickly　as　possible。　Their　noisy　drums　had　ceased；　and　suddenly　I
perceived　a　general　skedaddle；　as　those　upon　our　right　flank　started　off
in　full　speed；　shouting　and　yelling　to　alarm　the　rest。　I　now
distinguished　a　body　of　troops　hurrying　at　the　double　down　the　hill…side
in　the　distance。　These　were　commanded　by　an　active　Soudani　officer
（lieutenant）　who　had　been　in　Mexico　under　Marshal　Bazaine。　He　had　heard
the　firing　as　he　was　returning　with　his　day's　collection　of　corn　to　the
vessels；　he　had　therefore　dropped　the　corn；　and　hurried　on　with　his
party　to　our　support。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　retreat：　and　having　joined　forces；　we
marched　without　further　opposition。

We　reached　the　diahbeeah　and　my　little　camp　about　half　an　hour　after
dark。



CHAPTER　XII。

VESSELS　RETURN　TO　KHARTOUM。

ON　6th　November；　1871；　Lieutenant　Baker　returned　from　Gondokoro　with
four　noggurs；　and　the　entire　detachment　of　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet。
The　news　was　as　follows：…

After　the　departure　of　Major　Abdullah；　the　natives　had　attacked　the　camp
of　Colonel　Achmet；　and　had　wounded　him　in　the　back　with　a　barbed　arrow；
which　had　to　be　cut　out。　Another　arrow　had　passed　through　the　heart　of
his　servant；　killing　him　on　the　spot。　Several　soldiers　had　been　wounded；
but　not　seriously。　The　corn　had　been　delivered　from　his　station　to　the
magazines　at　Gondokoro。

On　3rd　November；　thirty　vessels　had　left　Gondokoro　for　Khartoum；　taking
about　1；100　people；　including　children；　women；　sailors；　soldiers；　and
invalids。

In　spite　of　my　positive　orders；　that　none　but　the　really　sick　should　be
sent　to　Khartoum；　Raouf　Bey　had　in　my　absence　sent　away　great　numbers　of
troops　who　were　in　sound　health；　thus　reducing　the　entire　force　of　the
expedition　to　502　officers　and　men；　including　buglers；　drummers；　clerks；
&c。；　exclusive　of　fifty…two　sailors。

Thus　an　expedition　that　should　have　comprised　1；645　men　was　reduced　to
so　insignificant　a　force；　that　it　appeared　impossible　to　proceed　into
the　interior。　The　Baris　were　at　war　with　us；　the　slave…hunters'
companies　were　treacherous；　and　yet　I　was　to　suppress　the　slave　trade；
and　annex　the　equatorial　districts　with　less　than　one…third　of　the　force
required。

Abou　Saood　had　apparently　gained　his　point；　and　the　expedition　was
paralyzed。　It　was　considered　that　with　so　small　a　force　I　could　not
travel　far　from　headquarters：　thus　as　my　term　of　service　would　expire　on
1st　April　1873；　I　had　only　one　year　and　four　months　remaining；　and　in
this　short　time　it　would　be　impossible　to　accomplish　my　object。

In　the　dreadful　state　of　the　river　we　could　not　speculate　upon　the
arrival　of　reinforcements　from　Khartoum。　Our　cuttings　and　canals　in　the
Dalir　Giraffe　might　have　closed　up；　or　they　might　have　improved：　of　this
we　were　ignorant。

I　had　sent　off　my　letters　to　England；　also　those　to　the　Khedive；
complaining　of　the　conspiracy　of　the　officers；　and　inclosing　the
documents。　At　the　same　time　I　had　impressed　upon　his　Highness　the
imperative　necessity　of　opening　the　channel　of　the　great　White　Nile
without　delay。＇*＇

＇*Footnote：　His　Highness　lost　no　time　in　sending　the　necessary　orders
for　the　clearing　of　the　main　channel　of　the　White　Nile　to　the　governor
of　the　Soudan。　This　energetic　officer；　Ismail　Ayoob　Pacha；　worked　with　a
large　force　during　two　consecutive　years　and　restored　the　river　to　its
original　charactercompleting　the　work　after　I　had　returned　to　England；
but　before　the　arrival　of　my　successor。　Colonel　Gordon　was　thus　enabled
to　make　use　of　the　six　powerful　steamers　which　I　had　sent　up　from　Cairo
to　Khartoum；　and　the　expedition　continued　without　hindrance。＇

I　had　written　to　Djiaffer　Pacha　for　reinforcements　＇*＇　to　be　sent　
from　Khartoum　immediately；　together　with　a　large　supply　of　dhurra。

＇*Footnote：　These　reinforcements　were　thirteen　months　actually　on　the　
river　from　Khartoum　to　Gondokoro；　and　they　only　arrived　at　the　close　
of　the　expedition。）

I　had　very　little　hope　of　receiving　anything　from　the　Soudan。　It　was
therefore　necessary　to　make　my　arrangements　for　the　future；
independently　of　all　extraneous　assistance。　With　502　officers　and　men；
and　fifty…two　armed　sailors；　I　had　to　accomplish　the　work。

The　force　at　present　with　me　consisted　of　251　officers　and　men；　thus　I
had　exactly　half　of　the　troops。　Gondokoro　was　well　fortified；　and　the
Belinian　had　been　thoroughly　cowed；　therefore　I　had　nothing　to　fear　in
that　quarter。

I　had　more　than　filled　one　of　the　great　magazines　with　corn：　therefore；
including　the　dhurra　now　on　board　several　vessels；　I　had　about　twelve
months'　supply　for　the　expedition。

Although　my　force　was　terribly　reduced　in　numbers；　the　men　who　remained
were　strong　and　healthy。　I　did　not　despair；　but　I　determined　that　this
reduction　of　military　force　should　NOT　paralyze　the　activity　of　the
expedition；　and　that　in　spite　of　every　intrigue；　I　would　succeed　in　the
main　objects　of　the　enterprise；　the　slave　trade　should　be　suppressed；
and　the　territory　should　be　annexed　to　the　equator。

On　10th　November　I　took　a　hundred　and　fifty　men　in　order　to　make　a
reconnaissance　of　the　country；　at　the　last　cataracts　of　the　White　Nile；
about　six　miles　south　of　our　position。

We　started　early；　and　marched　along　the　high　ground　parallel　with　the
river；　passing　the　spot　where　the　natives　had　attacked　us　some　days
previous。　Nothing　could　exceed　the　beauty　of　this　country　as　an
agricultural　settlement。　The　long；　sloping　undulations　were　ornamented
with　innumerable　villages；　in　all　of　which　were　overflowing　granaries。
On　arrival　at　the　dry　bed　of　a　broad　stream；　we　ascended　a　slope；　and　to
my　astonishment　I　noticed　a　considerable　body　of　natives　who　neither　ran
away　nor　appeared　hostile　in　their　demeanour。　Leaving　my　rifle　with
Monsoor；　I　rode　up　within　fifty　yards　of　them；　apparently　unarmed；　but　I
had　a　pair　of　breech…loading　pistols　in　my　holsters。

My　Bari　interpreter；　Morgian；　now　explained；　that　I　was　only　on　an
exploration；　and　that　I　had　no　intention　of　disturbing　their　property；　I
only　desired　to　communicate　with　their　sheik。

For　the　first　time　I　received　a　civil　answer　from　the　Baris。　They
explained；　that　although　they　were　Baris；　they　had　no　connection　with
the　people　who　had　fought　us。　They　were　governed　by　a　great　sheik　named
Bedden；　whose　territory　was　bounded　by　the　torrent　bed　that　we　had　just
crossed。　They　promised　that　he　should　pay　me　a　visit　on　the　morrow：　in
the　mean　tine；　if　we　required　any　corn；　they　would　supply　us。　This　was　a
politeness　to　which　I　was　quite　unaccustomed。　I　therefore　thanked　them；
but　declined　their　offer；　saying　that　I　wanted　nothing　from　them　except
friendship。

I　now　discovered；　that　these　people　had　never　had　any　communication　with
the　slave…traders；　who　were　afraid　to　molest　so　powerful　a　tribe。

At　parting；　I　gave　them　a　white　handkerchief　as　a　signal　to　our
sentries；　when　they　should　arrive。

We　then　returned　to　our　station；　the　troops　sharing　the　satisfaction
that　I　felt　in　having　at　length　discovered　friends。

On　the　following　day　at　about　3　p。m。　the　sentry　on　the　hill　called　to
the　guard；　that　a　very　large　body　of　natives　was　approaching　the
station。

I　presumed　that　these　were　the　followers　of　Bedden。　I　therefore　ascended
the　slope　and　examined　them　with　the　telescope。

My　suspicions　were　aroused　from　the　extraordinary　number　of　people；　at
least　700　natives　were　accompanying　their　sheik。

I　returned　to　camp；　and　made　arrangements　to　receive　his　visit　with　a
guard　of　honour。　I　drew　up　a　hundred　men　parallel　with　the　river；　about
fifty　yards　from　the　bank；　near　the　bow　of　my　diahbeeah。　Fifty　men　were
in　line　at　right　angles　with　the　river：　thus　the　lines　formed　two　sides
of　a　square。

In　the　front　I　placed　the　fieldpiece　loaded　with　canister　shot。　I
intended　to　receive　Bedden　with　due　honour　in　the　hollow　square　thus
protected。　In　the　event　of　treachery；　his　force　could　be　almost
annihilated　by　one　discharge。

The　hill　sentry　now　reported　the　arrival　of　a　messenger；　who　waved　a
white　handkerchief　on　the　end　of　a　bamboo。　This　was　the　signal　agreed
upon；　and　the　messenger　was　allowed　to　pass。　He　communicated　the　fact　of
Bedden's　approach：　in　a　few　minutes　later　the　great　sheik　arrived。

He　was　very　tall　and　gaunt；　and　without　any　delay；　both　he　and　his
people　were　ushered　into　the　hollow　square；　where　they　all　stuck　their
lances　in　the　ground　and　sat　down。

I　now　sent　for　Bedden　and　a　few　of　his　principal　men　to　the　poop　deck　of
my　diahbeeah；　which；　being　covered　with　carpets；　and　arranged　with　sofas
and　chairs；　was　something　very　astonishing　to　the　great　sheik；　who　had
never　seen　anything　but　a　vessel　in　the　distance。

I　explained　the　objects　of　the　expedition；　at　the　same　time　I　presented
him　with　a　long　Egyptian　blue　shirt　that　reached　to　his　ankles；　and　made
him　look　more　respectable。　A　crimson　sash　round　his　waist；　and　a　red
tarboosh　（fez）　upon　his　head；　improved　his　appearance　wonderfully；　and
he　began　to　feel　at　home。

I　presented　him　with　six　pounds　of　beads　of　various　colours；　together
with　some　strings　of　harness　bells。　Brass　bugles　and　a　large　mirror
attracted　more　attention　than　any　other　curiosities。

I　gave　him　a　brass　bugle；　to　his　great　delight。　The　use　of　the　cannon
was　then　explained　to　him；　and　the　effects　of　the　shell　were　pardonably
exaggerated　to　produce　a　respect　for　the　weapon。

He　gave　us　six　pots　of　merissa　and　some　fowls；　promising　to　come　again
tomorrow。

All　these　people　believe　in　sorcery；　and　each　sheik　possesses　spells　an