ismailia-第88章

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before　them；　and　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　were　now　keenly　looking　out　for　the
approach　of　the　wily　Unyoros。

We　heard　distant　voices；　they　were　coming　nearer。　　A　sharp　clicking　of
locks　might　be　heard；　as　the　men　got　ready。

All　Sadik　was　one　of　my　best　shots　in　〃The　Forty。〃　　I　now　saw　him　taking
a　steady　aim。　Saat　Choush；　who　was　the　champion　shot　of　〃The　Forty〃；　had
also　raised　his　rifle；　and　almost　immediately　several　shots　were　fired；
and　the　troops　rushed　forward！　Two　natives　had　been　knocked　over；　and
some　of　the　men　returned；　dragging　in　a　body　by　the　heels。

I　now　scoured　the　immediate　neighbourhood；　and　discovered　a　quantity　of
dhurra　that　was　just　ripened。　This　was　immediately　gathered　as　a　great
prize。

During　this　interval；　my　men　had　been　engaged　in　a　most　barbarous
ceremony；　that　perfectly　disgusted　me。

These　superstitious　people　had　an　idea；　that　every　bullet　they　might
fire　would　kill　an　Unyoro；　if　they　could　only　devour　a　portion　of　their
enemy's　liver。

They　had　accordingly　cut　out　the　liver　of　the　dead　man；　and　having
divided　it　among　them；　they　positively　HAD　EATEN　ITraw！　They　had　then
cut　the　body　into　pieces　with　their　sword…bayonets；　and　had　disposed
them　upon　the　limbs　of　various　bushes　that　overhung　the　path；　as　a
warning　to　any　Unyoros　who　should　attempt　to　follow　us。

I　would　not　have　believed　that　my　〃Forty　Thieves〃；　whom　I　had　considered
to　be　nearly　civilized；　could　have　committed　such　a　barbarity。　The　truth
was；　that　in　the　high　grass　they　could　not　see　the　effect　of　their
shots；　therefore　they　imagined　that　the　horrid　rite　of　eating　an　enemy's
liver　would　give　a　fatal　direction　to　a　random　bullet。

We　marched；　and　having　had　several　encounters　with　the　enemy　in　jungle；
if　possible　worse　than　before；　we　halted　at　Kaseega。

One　of　my　best　men；　Serroor；　had　a　narrow　escape；　a　lance　went　through
his　neck；　almost　grazing　the　jugular　vein。

On　19th　June；　we　marched　at　6。5　A。M。　This　was　one　of　the　worst　journeys；
as　the　ravines　were　numerous；　and　the　forest　dark　and　tangled。　It　was
difficult　for　our　solitary　horse　（Jamoos）　to　carry　his　load；　as　it
became　continually　hooked　in　the　hanging　loops　of　the　wild　vines。　We
were　quickly　attacked　by　various　ambuscades；　in　one　of　which　my　wife
suffered　the　loss　of　a　great　favourite。　This　was　poor　little　Jarvah；　who
went　by　the　name　of　the　〃fat　boy。〃　Two　spears　struck　the　unhappy　lad　at
the　same　moment　one　of　which　pinned　both　his　legs　as　though　upon　a　spit；
the　other　went　through　his　body。　This　loss　completely　upset　my　wife；　as
the　unfortunate　Jarvah　had　upon　several　occasions　endeavoured　to　protect
her　from　danger。　He　was　killed　only　a　few　paces　behind　her。

In　one　of　the　ambuscades；　just　as　the　enemy　had　been　repulsed；　Faddul；
the　strongest　man　in　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃；　who　was　close　to　me；　carrying
his　knapsack　on　his　back；　his　rifle　slung　across　his　shoulders；　and　a
box　of　500　snider　cartridges　（64　lbs。）　upon　his　head；　walked　up　to　me
during　the　halt　and　reported　himself　as　badly　wounded。

A　spear　had　struck　him　obliquely　in　the　posterior；　and　had　taken　a
direction　towards　the　groin。　The　nian　was　literally　bathed　in　blood；
which　ran　from　him　in　such　a　stream　that　a　large　pool　was　formed　at　his
feet　as　he　stood　before　me。

The　instant　that　the　box　of　snider　ammunition　was　taken　from　his　head；
he　fell　apparently　lifeless　to　the　ground。

I　thought　that　he　had　bled　to　death。

His　rifle　and　knapsack　were　removed；　and　I　examined　his　pulse　and　heart！
I　could　not　feel　any　movement。　All　I　could　do　was　to　pour　some　brandy
very　slowly　down　his　throat；　and　to　leave　him　on　the　side　of　the　path　as
another　good　man　lost　to　the　expedition。

We　marched　forward；　and　in　about　ten　minutes　we　arrived　at　an　open　field
of　sweet　potatoes。　The　change　from　dark　jungle　and　dense　grasses　of
giant　height　to　the　fresh　and　clear　space　cannot　be　understood；　unless
by　those　who　experienced　the　difficulties　of　the　march。

I　halted　the　advance…guard　in　the　centre　of　the　open　field；　and　waited
for　the　rear　to　close　up。

As　it　arrived；　I　saw　a　man　staggering　forward；　supported　by　two
soldiers。　Upon　nearer　approach；　I　recognized　my　strong　friend；　Faddul；
thus　risen　front　the　dead！　The　brandy　had　revived　him　sufficiently　to
show　some　signs　of　life；　and　the　rear…guard　had　thus　brought　him　along
with　them。　We　laid　him　down　to　rest　beneath　a　tree　that　grew　in　the
middle　of　the　cultivation。

We　were　now　in　a　sad　difficulty。　　There　were　numerous　roads；　or　rather
very　narrow　paths；　which　converged　from　all　quarters　upon　this　potato
ground。　No　one　knew　the　direction。　The　Baris　were　completely　at　fault。
The　farther　the　people　explored　the　immediate　neighbourhood；　the　more
helpless　they　became。

This　was　a　serious　matter。　　Up　to　the　present　time　we　had　been　most
fortunate　in　keeping　to　the　right　path。

I　now　called　my　renowned　pathfinder；　Abdullah；　of　〃The　Forty〃。

Abdullah　made　a　survey　of　the　surrounding　tracks；　and　then　returned　to
me　with　the　news　that　he　had　discovered　the　route。　This　he　immediately
pointed　out。

A　general　exclamation　of　derision　from　the　officers　and　many　of　the　men
was　the　only　reward　Abdullah　received　for　his　important　discovery；　as
his　path　was　in　quite　an　opposite　direction　to　the　route　they　had
anticipated。

The　compass　corroborated　Abdullah's　road；　but　before　I　adopted　it；　I
asked　him　why　he　declared　so　positively　that　he　knew　the　way？　He
replied；　that　when　on　the　march　from　Foweera；　he　had　observed　a
peculiarly…shaped　tree；　upon　which　was　fastened　a　native　cojoor；　or
spell。　That　tree　was　on　rising　ground　above　a　ravine；　and　he　could　now
show　me　both　the　ravine　and　the　magic　tree。

I　accompanied　him　to　the　spot；　and　certainly　the　tree　was　there；　with
some　pieces　of　ragged　bark…cloth　and　some　grass　tied　to　the　stem。　I　had
often　seen　talismans　that　were　fastened　to　the　trees；　and　I　suggested　to
Abdullah　that　there　were　many　of　them　along　the　road。　He　was　so
confident　in　accepting　every　responsibility　as　guide；　that　I　followed
him　without　hesitation；　and　the　march　continued。　The　wounded　Faddul　was
supported　as　before。

In　a　short　time　I　myself　recognized　the　path　as　being　very　near　to
Kisoona；　which　place　we　suddenly　entered　after　a　march　of　thirty…five
minutes　from　the　potato　field。　The　advance…guard　fired　a　volley　at　some
natives；　who　rushed　into　the　grass　upon　our　unexpected　arrival。

We　were　now　in　open　ground；　with　good　native　huts　for　shelter；　and　a
large　extent　of　cultivation；　where　an　unlimited　supply　of　potatoes　could
be　obtained。

As　the　rear…guard　closed　up；　I　mustered　all　officers　and　men。　Having
spoken　a　few　words　of　encouragement；　and　complimented　them　upon　their
extreme　steadiness　since　I　had　lectured　them　at　Chorobeze；　I
congratulated　them　upon　having　advanced　so　far；　under　God's　protection；
through　such　numberless　enemies；　with　comparatively　so　little　loss。　We
were　now　only　twenty…one　miles　from　Foweera；　and　we　knew　the　road。　The
news　of　our　arrival　would　almost　immediately　reach　Rionga；　and　I　should
fortify　this　spot　and　remain　here　for　some　days　to　allow　my　wounded　to
recover　their　strength。　During　this　time　all　hands　would　be　employed　in
preparing　potatoes　for　store；　by　cutting　them　in　slices　and　drying　them
in　the　sun。

I　now　ordered　the　band　to　strike　up　with　the　greatest　vigour；　to　show
the　natives　who　might　be　within　hearing；　that　we　were　in　the　best　of
spirits。

My　officers　and　men　were　all　delighted；　and　overwhelmed　me　with
compliments。　I　only　replied　by　begging　them　always　to　trust　in　God；　and
to　do　their　duty。

I　immediately　started　off　a　party　to　dig　potatoes；　while　Lieutenant
Baker　and　myself；　with　a　number　of　men；　slashed　down　with　sabres　the
extensive　grove　of　plantain　trees；　so　as　to　have　a　perfectly　clear　space
around　the　camp。

We　made　a　strong　defence　at　Kisoona；　and　the　rest　of　several　days　was
invigorating　to　the　wounded　men；　and　enabled　my　wife's　feet　to　recover
sufficiently　to　continue　the　march　on　the　23rd　June。

I　had　arranged　that　the　drums　and　bugles　should　sound　the　morning　call
at　5　A。M。　daily；　as　though　in　a　permanent　camp。　This　was　to　assist　me　in
a　plan　for　avoiding　ambuscades　on　the　day　of　marching　from　Kisoona。

On　the　22nd　I　gave　orders　that　every　man　should　be　ready　to　march
punctually　at　5　A。M。；　the　instant　that　the　morning　call　should　have
sounded。

The　natives；　hearing　the　call　to　which　they　had　been　daily　accustomed；
would　have　no　suspicion　of　our　intended　departure；　therefore　they　would
not　have　sufficient　time　to　organize　and　man　their　ambuscades。

On　the　morning　of　the　23rd　June　we　silently　evacuated　the　camp　in　the
semi…darkness；　the　instant　that　the　drums　and　bugles　had　ceased；　and
thus　obtained　an　excellent　start　that　saved　us　much　trouble。　The　attacks
later　in　the　day　were　feebler　than　usual；　and　after　a　march　of　fourteen
miles　we　arrived　at　a　well　of　water　at　2。5　P。M。；　at　which　spot　we　halted
for　the　night。　During　this　march　we　had　only　one　man　wounded。

We　were　now　within　Rionga's　country；　but　I　nevertheless　made　a　defence
of　thorns　and　branches　of　trees　for　the　night。

On　24th　June　we　started　at　6。5　A。M。；　and　after　a　march　of　seven　miles；
during　which　we　were　undisturbed；　we　arrived　at　the　old　camp　of
Suleiman's　company　at　Foweera　on　the　Victoria　Nile；　where　we　had
expected　to　find　shelter　and　good　houses。

Everything　had　been　destroyed　by　fire！　　Nothing　remained　but　blackened
ashes。




CHAPTER　XXIII

BUILD　A　STOCKADE　AT　FOWEERA。

MY　losses　from　the　8th　June　to　the　24th　had　been　ten　killed　and　eleven
wounded。　Every　officer　and　soldier　had　thoroughly　done　his　duty；　having
displayed　admirable　coolness　and　courage　upon　many　trying　occasions。
None　but　black　troops　could　have　endured　the　march　of　about　eighty　miles
with　heavy　weights　upon　their　heads；　in　addition　to　their　usual
accoutrements。

I　at　once　set　to　work　to　build　a　new　station；　and　with　the　old　wood　that
had　formed　the　fence　of　Suleiman's　zareeba；　I　commenced　a　defensive
arrangement。

There　was　very　little　heavy　timber　that　was　adapted　for　a　stockade。　　I
therefore　formed　a　protection　by　sinking　deep　in　the　ground；　at
intervals　of　three　feet；　two　strong　posts　about　seven　feet　above　the
surface。　These　upright　timbers；　standing　opposite　to　each　other　at　a
distance　of　about　ten　inches；　were　filled　with　long　poles　laid　one　over
the　other　horizontally。　At　two　corners　of　the　square　fort　were　flanking
works　of　the　same　construction；　which　would　sweep　each　face　of　the
defence。

In　a　few　days　my　men　had　completed　a　strong　and　neat　stockade　around　a
number　of　small　temporary　huts　which　formed　our　new　station。

Having　thus　housed　my　troops；　it　was　necessary　to　prepare　for　the
future。　I　fully　expected　that　Major　Abdullah　had　fallen　into　the　snare
prepared　for　him　by　Kabba　Rega：　thus　I　should　have　no　other　force　to
rely　upon；　except　the　few　men　that　now　formed　my　small　but　tough　little
party。　If　so　terrible　a　calamity　should　have　occurred　as　the　destruction
of　Abdullah's　detachment；　I　should　not　only　have　lost　my　men；　but　I
should　become　short　of　ammunition；　as　my　stores　and　arms　would　have
fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　enemy。　This　doubt　caused　me　much　grave
anxiety。

It