ismailia-第46章

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tomorrow。

All　these　people　believe　in　sorcery；　and　each　sheik　possesses　spells　and
conjurers。　Tortoise　shells；　scales　of　the　manis；　lions'　claws；　and　those
of　the　leopard；　roots；　knots　of　trees　of　peculiar　shape；　and　many　other
things；　are　worn　as　talismans。

My　wife's　parrot　was　supposed　to　be　a　cojoor；　or　fetish。　This　was　the
grey　bird　of　West　Africa；　that　was　unknown　in　these　parts。　The
interpreter　explained　that　〃it　could　speak　like　a　human　being；　and　that
it　flew　about　the　country　and　listened　to　what　people　saidall　of
which　it　repeated　to　its　mistress　and　myself；　thus　we　knew　everything
that　occurred；　and　the　natives　could　not　deceive　us。〃　This　parrot　was
exceedingly　tame；　and　was　never　confined。　It　was　now　walking　about　the
deck；　and　while　its　extraordinary　powers　were　being　described　by　my　Bari
interpreter；　Morgian；　to　the　amazement　and　fear　of　the　natives；　it
advanced　stoutly　to　the　sheik　Bedden；　and　would　have　bitten　his　big　toe
had　he　not　quickly　jumped　up　and　taken　leave。

The　magnetic　battery　and　the　large　musical　box　were　also　believed　to　be
magic。

At　sunset；　the　great　sheik　departed　in　the　best　of　spirits；　with　all　his
people；　as　he　had　drunk　a　tumbler　of　Marsala　before　he　started；　in　order
to　try　the　quality　of　our　merissa。

The　population　of　this　country　is　very　large；　and　the　natives　are　good
agriculturists。　Although　the　soil　is　stony；　it　is　very　productive；　as
the　cultivation　is　carefully　attended　to。　Dhurra；　sesame；　dochan；　and
beans；　in　addition　to　a　species　of　Hibiscus　which　produces　an　edible
seed　and　also　a　fine　fibre；　are　sown　in　exact　oblongs　or　squares
resembling　the　plots　in　allotment…grounds　in　England。　Near　the　villages
are　large　heaps　of　manure；　collected　from　the　cattle　zareebas。　These　are
mixed　with　the　sweepings　of　the　stations；　and　the　ashes　from　the
cattle…fires；　and　are　divided　when　required　among　the　proprietors　of　the
herds。

Each　cow　of　the　zareeba　is　entitled　to　a　certain　measure　of　manure　at
the　commencement　of　the　rains；　when　all　hands　turn　out　to　cultivate；
thus　the　owner　of　many　cows　is　enabled　to　farm　a　large　area。

The　cows　are　all　herded　in　one　or　two　pens；　thus　the　whole　manure　is
heaped；　and；　when　divided；　is　measured　in　large　baskets。　It　is　then
distributed　very　thickly　over　the　field；　and　is　roughly　hoed　with　the
iron　molote；　the　seed　been　thrown　upon　the　manure　broadcast；　previous　to
the　hoeing。

The　geological　appearance　of　the　country　would　suggest　the　presence　of
precious　metals。　Large　masses　of　rose…coloured　and　icy…white　quartz
project　from　the　surface　in　dikes。　These　run　for　miles　in　tolerably
direct　lines；　like　walls；　from　west　to　east。　Generally　the　rocks　are
granitic；　consisting　of　syenite　and　gneiss；　with　micacious　schist　in　the
lower　valleys。　Occasionally；　dikes　of　basalt　break　through　the　surface；
which　is　generally　much　denuded；　and　the　rocks　are　weather…worn　and
decomposed。

I　have　frequently　washed　for　gold　in　the　most　likely　spots　among　the
deep　holes　of　ravines；　where　the　torrents　have　worn　away　the　bed；　but　I
have　found　no　sign　of　either　precious　stones　or　metals。　Magnetic　iron
ore　in　large　quantities　is　the　only　metal　to　be　discovered　in　the
river…beds。

On　13th　November；　at　sunrise；　Lieutenant　Baker　started　with　the　troops
to　convey　corn　from　a　distant　village。　I　was　sitting　on　the　poop…deck　of
the　diahbeeah；　enjoying　a　pipe　and　a　cup　of　coffee；　when　he　suddenly
galloped　back　with　the　news　that　a　herd　of　bull　elephants　was
approaching　from　the　west。　I　was　not　prepared　for　elephant…shooting；　and
I　recommended　him　to　return　to　the　troops；　who　would　otherwise　waste
their　time。　I　had　no　suspicion　that　elephants　would　approach　our
position　after　having　been　disturbed　by　the　soldiers；　in　a　country　that
was　perfectly　open。

Lieutenant　Baker　cantered　back　to　his　men；　while　I　commenced　to　write　up
my　daily　journal　according　to　my　daily　custom。

In　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　the　sentry　reported　a　herd　of　elephants。
All　my　people　clambered　up　upon　the　googoos　and　buts　to　obtain　a　good
view　of　the　herd；　which　from　the　high　poop…deck　of　the　diahbeeah　we
could　see　distinctly。

There　were　eleven　bulls；　and　they　were　marching　in　close　order　along　the
bank　of　the　river；　approaching　us　at　about　400　yards'　distance。

I　should　have　thought　it　almost　as　likely　to　meet　a　herd　of　elephants　in
Hyde　Park　as　to　find　them　in　this　open　and　thickly…populated　country。　I
now　distinguished　natives　along　the　distant　heights；　all　of　whom　were
attracted　by　the　uncommon　occurrence。

In　the　mean　time　the　elephants　approached；　swinging　their　trunks　and
huge　ears　to　and　fro；　apparently　unconscious　of　the　presence　of　the
vessels　and　people。

I　always　kept　my　guns　and　ammunition　in　beautiful　order；　arranged　on　a
rack　in　the　cabin。　On　the　left…hand　side　were　the　shotguns；　i。e。；　two
breechloading　No。　12；　four　muzzleloading　No。　10。　On　the　right；　the
rifles：　the　little　〃Dutchman；〃　two　breechloading　Reilly　No。　8；　two
muzzleloading　Holland　half…pounders；　that　carried　an　iron　lead…coated
explosive　shell；　containing　a　bursting　charge　of　half　an　ounce　of　fine
grain　powder。　These　two　elephant　rifles　were　very　hard　hitters；　and
carried　twelve　drachms　of　powder。　The　ammunition　for　the　rifles　was　on　a
shelf　that　formed　the　rack；　contained　in　a　small　bag　with　a　simple
reload；　and　a　large　bag　with　a　considerable　supply。　The　small　bag　was
intended　for　the　deck；　should　I　call　suddenly　for　a　rifle。

Seeing　that　the　elephants　were　so　near；　I　at　once　ordered　my　horse；
〃Greedy　Grey；〃　to　be　saddled；　and　the　rifles　and　ammunition　to　be　sent
after　me。　My　servant；　Suleiman；　who　had　started　with　me　from　Alexandria；
was　an　honest；　good　creature；　but　so　exceedingly　nervous　that　he　was
physically　useless　in　any　sudden　emergency。　The　climate　of　the　marshes
during　our　long　voyage　had　so　affected　his　nervous　system；　that　any
alarm　or　start　would　set　him　trembling　to　such　an　extent；　that　his　teeth
chattered　as　though　he　had　been　bathing　in　iced　water。　However；　there
was　no　time　to　lose；　as　I　expected　that　should　the　elephants　observe　our
vessels；　and　the　troops　in　their　scarlet　uniform；　they　would　immediately
wheel　round　and　be　off；　at　the　pace　which　an　African　elephant　knows　so
well　how　to　use。

I　quickly　mounted　〃Greedy　Grey〃　and　told　Suleiman　to　send　on　my　rifles
directly；　with　ammunition。

I　ordered　my　men　to　run　up　the　heights；　and　to　come　down　at　about　200
paces　in　the　rear　of　the　elephants；　where　they　were　to　form　a　line　as
though　in　skirmishing　order。　This　line　of　red　shirts　would　most　probably
check　the　elephants　from　rushing　back。　My　men　had　orders　to　fire　at　the
elephants；　and　to　endeavour　to　turn　them　should　they　attempt　a　retreat。

I　was　now　on　〃Greedy　Grey；〃　the　sloping　ground　was　as　clean　as　a
race…course；　I　therefore　galloped　up　the　incline　so　as　to　keep　above　the
elephants。　The　horse　flew　along　at　full　speed。　At　this　moment；　a　chorus
of　shouts　from　great　numbers　of　natives　who　had　collected　on　the　east
bank　of　the　river　was　raised　in　admiration　of　the　white　horse；　which
they　probably　thought　would　in　some　manner　seize　the　elephants。

In　a　very　few　seconds　I　reined　up　on　the　slope；　about　a　hundred　yards
above　the　herd；　which　had　now　halted　close　to　the　river's　bank。　They
regarded　the　horse　with　some　curiosity；　and　massed　themselves　together。

In　the　meantime；　my　〃Forty；〃　who　were　capital　runners；　were　moving
rapidly　along　the　heights；　and　they　presently　came　down；　and　formed　in　a
long；　open　line　from　the　edge　of　the　river　up　the　slope。　During　this
operation；　the　elephants　only　moved　their　ears　and　trunks；　but　remained
in　the　same　position。　They　were　now　completely　surrounded；　the　diahbeeah
and　my　people　were　in　their　front；　I　was　above　them　on　one　flank；　and
the　servants　were　coming　up　with　the　rifles。　In　their　rear　was　a　line　of
about　twenty　soldiers；　and　on　the　other　flank　was　the　deep　river；　about
110　yards　wide　from　the　mainland　to　the　island。

Just　as　the　rifles　were　within　a　few　yards　of　me　and　I　was　preparing　to
dismount；　the　elephants　wheeled　suddenly　round；　and　took　to　water。

They　had　been　standing　in　a　low；　swampy　spot　that　was　frequently
overflowed：　thus　they　had　no　difficulty　in　descending　to　the　river。
Close　to　this　place；　the　banks　were　perpendicular；　and　as　hard　as　brick。

I　ran　down　to　the　river；　but　by　the　time　of　my　arrival；　the　elephants
had　gained　the　opposite　bank；　there；　however；　they　were　in　a　difficulty。
The　water　was　deep；　and　the　shore　of　the　island　was　perpendicular；　and
about　six　feet　above　the　water。　They　could　not　get　out　without　breaking
down　the　bank　so　as　to　form　an　incline。　Already　these　enormous
creatures；　which　are　accustomed　to　such　difficulties；　were　tearing　down
the　earth　with　their　tusks　and　horny…toed　feet；　still　it　was　a　work　of
time；　that　gave　me　a　good　opportunity。

It　was　difficult　to　obtain　a　shot；　as　the　elephants　were　end　on。　The
distance　was　about　110　yards；　which　is　very　uncertain　for　so　large　an
animal；　that　must　be　struck　exactly　in　the　right　place。

I　fired　several　shots　with　the　No。　8　breechloader；　aimed　at　the　back　of
their　heads；　but　none　of　these　were　successful。

Monsoor　had　the　ammunition；　and　reloaded　for　me。　The　stunning　effect　of
the　heavy　metal　confused　the　animals　and　caused　one　to　fall　backward
into　the　scrambling　herd。　This　turned　an　elephant　sideways。　The　bank　had
already　given　way　and　had　fallen　in　large　masses　into　the　water；　which
reduced　the　depth。　The　elephants；　which　had　now　gained　a　muddy　footing；
ploughed　and　tore　down　the　yielding　earth　with　redoubled　vigour；　as　my
men　in　great　excitement　opened　a　hot　fire　upon　them　with　the　snider
rifles。　These　had　about　as　much　effect　as　though　they　had　been　pelted
with　stones。

Presently；　as　the　depth　was　lessened　by　the　falling　bank；　the　elephants
showed　more　body　above　the　surface。　The　splashing　and　scrambling　was
extraordinary；　at　length　a　large　bull　half　ascended　the　bank；　and　for　a
moment　exposed　his　flank；　I　fired　a　quick　right　and　left　shot　with　a
Reilly　No。　8　behind　his　shoulder；　and　he　fell　backwards　into　the　river；
where　he　commenced　a　series　of　wild　struggles　that　brought　him　within
twenty　yards　of　me；　and　I　sent　a　ball　into　his　head　which　killed　him。
The　powerful　stream　at　once　carried　away　the　floating　carcase。

The　bank　had　now　completely　given　way；　and　an　elephant　was　nearly　on　the
summit。　I　fired　at　him　with　one　of　the　Holland　half…pounders；　which　by
the　recoil　flew　out　of　my　hands　for　a　distance　of　several　yards；　this
was　loaded　with　twelve　drachms　of　fine…grain　powder。　The　elephant　fell
on　his　knees　on　the　steep　incline；　and　was　bagged　to　all　intents　and
purposes；　but　believing　that　I　had　plenty　of　ammunition　at　hand；　I　fired
another　half…pounder　into　his　shoulder；　which　killed　him　on　the　spot；
and　he　rolled　into　the　water；　and　the　current　took　him　away。

I　immediately　sent　a　man　to　order　boats；　with　ropes　and　axes；　to　follow
the　carcases。

In　the　mean　time　I　fired　my　last　No。　8　into　the　shoulder　of　an　elephant
that　had　just　climbed　the　bank　and　gained　the　island。　I　now　had　a
glorious　opportunity　of　a　shoulder…shot　at　every　animal　as　it　should
ascend　the　steep　incline。

My　ammunition　was　exhausted