ismailia-第51章

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〃Magungo。〃）

The　Englishmen　would　be　occupied　in　the　construction　of　the　steamer　at
Ibrahimeyeh；　while　I　should　accomplish　my　mission　farther　south。

I　selected　my　officers　and　men；　carefully　avoiding　Egyptian　officers；
with　the　exception　of　my　true　friends　and　aides…de…camp；
Lieutenant…Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　Captain　Mohammed　Deii　of　the　〃Forty
Thieves；〃　and　the　faithful　Monsoor。

The　Soudani　officers　that　had　served　in　Mexico　under　Marshal　Bazaine
wereMajor　Abdullah；　Captain　Morgian　Sherriff；　Captain　Abdullah；
Lieutenants　Morgian　and　Ferritch；　and　several　sergeants；　corporals；　&c。

I　also　included　three　sailors　belonging　to　my　diahbeeah；　as　they　would
be　useful　in　the　event　of　boating　excursions。　These　men　were　Jali；
Mohammed；　and　Howarti；　all　of　whom　were　armed；　and　fell　into　the　line　of
rank　and　file　as　soldiers。

The　No。　3　steamer　had　been　packed　with　much　care。　The　carts　had　been
loaded　with　the　heavy　portions　that　could　not　be　transported　by
carriers；　and　we　had　proved　our　capability　of　travelling　provided　the
Baris　of　Bedden　would　remain　faithful　to　their　promise。　Every　cart　had
therefore　been　dismounted；　and　the　material　for　the　expedition　was
stowed　on　board　six　vessels。

Our　servants　had　much　improved。　The　negro　boys　who　had　been　liberated
had　grown　into　most　respectable　lads；　and　had　learned　to　wait　at　table
and　to　do　all　the　domestic　work　required。　First　of　the　boys　in
intelligence　was　the　Abyssinian；　Amarn。　This　delicate　little　fellow　was
perfectly　civilized；　and　always　looked　forward　to　accompanying　his
mistress　to　England。　The　next　was　Saat；　who　had　received　that　name　in
memory　of　my　good　boy　who　died　during　my　former　voyage。　Saat　was　a　very
fine；　powerful　lad；　who　was　exceedingly　attached　to　me；　but　he　was　not
quick　at　learning。　Bellaal　was　a　thick…set；　sturdy　boy　of　fourteen；　with
rather　a　savage　disposition。

My　favourite　was　Kinyon　（the　crocodile）；　the　volunteer。

This　was　a　very　handsome　negro　boy　of　the　Bari　tribe；　who；　being　an
orphan；　came　to　my　station；　and　volunteered　to　serve　me　at　the
commencement　of　the　Bari　war。

Kinyon　was　tall　and　slight；　with　a　pair　of　very　large；　expressive　eyes。
The　name　Kinyon；　or　crocodile　in　the　Bari　language；　had　been　given　him
because　he　was　long　and　thin。　Both　he　and　Amarn　were　thoroughly　good
boys；　and　never　received　either　chastisement　or　even　a　scolding
throughout　a　long　expedition。

Jarvah　was　also　a　good　lad；　who　went　by　the　name　of　the　〃fat　boy。〃　I
should　like　to　have　exhibited　him　at　Exeter　Hall　as　a　specimen　of
physical　comfort。

Jarvah　had　a　good　berthhe　was　cook's　mate。　His　superior　was　a　great
character；　who；　from　the　low　position　of　a　slave　presented　by　the　King
of　the　Shillooks；　Quat　Kare；　had　risen　from　cook's　mate　to　the　most
important　position　of　the　household。

Abdullah　was　now　the　cook！　He　had　studied　the　culinary　art　under　my
first…rate　Arab　cook；　who；　having　received　his　discharge；　left　the
management　of　our　stomachs　to　his　pupil。　Abdullah　was　an　excellent　cook
and　a　very　good　fellow；　but　he　was　dull　at　learning　Arabic。　He
invariably　distinguished　cocks　and　hens　as　〃bulls〃　and　〃women。〃

The　last　and　the　smallest　boy　of　the　household　was　little　Cuckoo　（or
Kookoo）。

Cuckoo　was　a　sturdy　child　of　about　six　years　old：　this　boy　had；　I
believe；　run　away　from　his　parents　in　the　Bari　during　the　war；　and　had
come　to　Morgian　our　interpreter；　when　food　was　scarce　among　the　tribe。
Following　the　dictates　of　his　appetite；　he　had　been　attracted　by　the
savoury　smell　of　Abdullah's　kitchen；　and　he　had　drawn　nearer　and　nearer
to　our　establishment；　until　at　length　by　playing　with　the　boys；　and
occasionally　being　invited　to　share　in　their　meals；　Cuckoo　had　become
incorporated　with　the　household。

Abdullah　and　the　six　boys　formed　the　native　domestic　corps。　My　wife；　who
was　their　commanding　officer；　had　them　all　dressed　in　uniform。　They　had
various　suits　of　short；　loose　trousers　reaching　half…way　down　the　calf
of　the　leg；　with　a　shirt　or　blouse　secured　at　the　waist　with　a　leather
belt　and　buckle。　These　belts　were　made　in　England；　and　were　about　six
feet　long；　thus　they　passed　twice　round　the　waist；　and　were　very　useful
when　travelling；　in　case　of　a　strap　and　buckle　being　required　suddenly。

Each　boy　wore　the　fez　or　tarboosh。　The　uniforms　were　very　becoming。
There　was　dark　blue　trimmed　with　red　facings；　pure　white　with　red
facings；　for　high　days　and　holidays；　scarlet　flannel　suits　complete；　and
a　strong　cotton　suit　dyed　brown　for　travelling　and　rough　wear。

The　boys　were　trained　to　change　their　clothes　before　they　waited　at　the
dinner　table；　and　to　return　to　their　working　dresses　after　dinner　when
washing　up　was　necessary。　In　this　habit　they　were　rigidly　particular；
and　every　boy　then　tied　his　dinner　suit　in　a　parcel；　and　suspended　it　to
the　roof　of　his　hut　to　be　ready　for　the　next　meal。

There　was　a　regular　hour　for　every　kind　of　work；　and　this　domestic
discipline　had　so　far　civilized　the　boys　that　they　were　of　the　greatest
possible　comfort　to　ourselves。

The　washing　up　after　dinner　was　not　a　very　long　operation；　as　half　a
dozen　plates　and　the　same　number　of　knives　and　forks；　with　a　couple　of
dishes；　were　divided　among　six　servants。

Directly　after　this　work；　play　was　allowed。　If　the　night　were　moonlight；
the　girls　were　summoned；　and　dancing　commenced。　During　the　day；　their
games　were　either　playing　at　soldiers；　or　throwing　lances　at　marks；　&c。

Thieving　was　quite　unknown　among　the　boys；　all　of　whom　were　scrupulously
honest。　The　sugar　might　be　left　among　them；　or　even　milk；　but　none　of
the　boys　I　have　mentioned　would　have　condescended　to　steal。　They　had
been　so　well　instructed　and　cared　for　by　my　wife；　that　in　many　ways　they
might　have　been　excellent　examples　for　lads　of　their　class　in　England。

The　girls　and　women　did　not　appear　to　so　much　advantage。　These　comprised
old　Karka；　young　Dam　Zeneb；　Sallaamto；　Fad…el…Kereem；　Marrasilla；　and
Faddeela。　They　had　learnt　to　wash；　but　could　never　properly　fold　the
linen。　Ironing　and　starching　were　quite　out　of　the　question；　and　would
have　been　as　impossible　to　them　as　algebra。　Some　of　these　girls　were
rather　pretty；　and　they　knew　it。　In　moral　character　Dam　Zeneb　and
Sallaamto　were　the　best。　Fad…el…Kereem　was　the　most　intelligent；　but　she
was　a　young　woman　of　strong　passions；　either　for　love　or　war；　and
required　peculiar　management。

They　were　all　dressed　in　similar　uniforms　to　the　boys；　with　only　a
slight　difference　in　the　length　of　their　blouses。

We　had　sent　little　Mostoora　to　the　care　of　Djiaffer　Pacha　at　Khartoum　to
be　educated；　before　we　left　Tewfikeeyah。　That　clever　little　creature　had
learnt　English　and　Arabic　sufficiently　to　converse；　and　although　not　far
removed　from　infancy；　she　was　more　intelligent　than　any　of　the　adults。
She　was　much　too　young　for　a　long　voyage　。　。　。　Everything　was　ready　for
the　start。　I　left　written　instructions　with　the　colonel；　Raouf　Bey；　also
with　Mr。　Higginbotham；　respecting　the　conduct　of　the　works　during　my
absence。　I　also　gave　the　necessary　orders　to　Mr。　Marcopolo；　thus　all
heads　of　departments　knew　their　positions。

I　sent　off　a　detachment　of　150　men　to　drive　a　herd　of　several　thousand
cattle　and　sheep　to　a　well…known　rocky　ravine；　about　six　miles　south；
which　was　to　be　the　rendezvous。

Before　leaving；　I　made　rather　a　pretty　shot　with　the　〃Dutchman〃　from　the
poop…deck　of　my　diahbeeah　at　a　crocodile　basking　on　a　sand…bank。　The
first　shot　through　the　shoulder　completely　paralyzed　it。　A　second　bullet
from　the　left…hand　barrel　struck　only　three　inches　from　the　first。
Lieutenant　Baker　determined　to　measure　the　distance；　thus　he　took　the
boat　with　the　end　of　a　long　line；　and　we　found　it　exactly　176　yards。

The　〃Dutchman〃　was　the　best　rifle　I　ever　shot　with；　and　was　quite
invaluable　throughout　the　expedition。

I　had　served　out　a　month's　rations　to　the　men；　and　my　last　instructions
to　Raouf　Bey　were　to　look　well　after　Livingstone；　and　provide　for　his
comfort　should　he　appear　during　my　absence。

On　22nd　January；　1872；　we　started　at　8　a。m。；　when　I　took　leave　of　my
good　friend　and　excellent　engineer…in…chief；　Mr。　Edwin　Higginbotham。　I
little　thought　that　we　should　never　meet　again。

The　wind　was　light　and　variable；　and　my　diahbeeah　soon　overtook　the
heavier　vessels。　In　the　evening　we　all　joined　and　concentrated　our
forces　at　the　rocky　ravine；　with　the　detachment　that　protected　the
cattle。

On　the　following　day；　the　23rd　January；　we　all　started　in　excellent
spirits。　The　soldiers　knew　the　country；　and　every　one　appeared　to　share
the　enjoyment　of　adventure。　The　people　had　learnt　to　depend　upon　my
guidance；　and　although　the　interior　of　the　country　was　unknown　to　them；
they　were　quite　contented　that　I　had　had　a　personal　experience　of　the
far　south；　and　they　were　safe　in　my　hands。

The　stream　was　very　powerful；　and　the　wind　was　so　variable　that　it　was
necessary　to　tow　the　vessels。　This　would　have　been　easy　work　if　the
river　had　been　deep　in　all　parts；　but　unfortunately　the　water　was　rather
low；　and　many　extensive　sandbanks　necessitated　long　detours。

The　men　were　then　obliged　to　wade　hip…deep；　and　to　tow　the　vessels　round
the　banks。

I　never　saw　the　people　in　such　high　spirits。　They　were　not　contented
with　a　walking　pace；　but　they　raced　with　each　other；　splashing　through
the　water；　and　hurrying　round　the　points　of　the　sand…banks；　until　they
once　more　reached　dry　ground。　Then　even　the　women　and　boys　jumped
ashore；　and　laying　hold　of　the　tow…rope；　joined　the　men　in　singing；　and
running　forward　along　the　hard　bank　they　made　the　diahbeeah　surge
through　the　water。

This　fun　had　continued　for　some　hours；　and　I　rejoiced　that　all　hearts
seemed　to　have　at　length　united　in　the　work。　I　had　no　fanatics　with　me。
The　black　officers　were　excellent　fellows　now　that　they　were　relieved
from　a　certain　influence　at　head…quarters。　Abd…el…Kader　was　as　true　as
gold。　Monsoor　was　a　Christian；and　my　〃Forty　Thieves〃　were　stanch；
brave　fellows　who　would　go　through　fire。

Ali　Nedjar　was；　as　usual；　revelling　in　strength　and　activity；　and　was
now　foremost　in　the　work　of　towing　the　diahbeeah。

A　sudden　bend　in　the　river　had　caused　a　small　sand…bank。　It　was
necessary　to　descend　from　the　high　shore　to　tow　the　vessel　round　the
promontory。

Men；　women；　and　children；　jumped　down　and　waded　along　the　edge　of　the
bank。

As　the　diahbeeah　turned　the　sharp　point；　I　noticed　that　the　water　was
exceedingly　deep　close　to　the　sand…bank；　and　the　stream　was　running　like
a　mill　race。

Fearing　some　accident　to　the　children；　I　ordered　all　who　could　not　swim
to　come　on　board　the　diahbeeah。　At　that　time　the　bow　of　the　vessel　was
actually　touching　the　sand；　but　the　stern；　having　swung　out　in　the
stream；　might　have　been　about　fifteen　feet　from　the　edge　of　the　bank　in
very　deep　water。

When　the　order　was　given　to　come　on　board；　many　of　the　people；　in　the
ebullition　of　spirits；　leapt　heedlessly　into　the　water　amidships；
instead　of　boarding　the　vessel　by　the　fore　part；　which　touched　the　sand。
These　were　dragged　on　board　with　considerable　difficulty。

The　boy　Saat　would　have　been　drowned　had　not　Monsoor　saved　him。　In　the
confusion；　when　several　were　struggling　in　the　water；　I　noti