ismailia-第98章

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The　women　were　very　industrious；　and　never　went　home　empty…handed；　but
if　some　were　unfortunate　in　their　supply　of　meat；　they　gathered　immense
bundles　of　firewood；　which　they　carried　many　miles　upon　their　heads　to
their　respective　villages　。　。　。　。

The　time　passed　very　happily　at　Fatiko；　and　the　fact　of　my　joining　with
the　natives　in　their　sports　added　to　the　confidence　already　established。

I　frequently　went　into　their　villages　to　smoke　a　pipe；　and　to　chat　with
the　people：　this　always　pleased　them；　and　the　children　generally　crowded
round　me；　as　I　never　went　empty…handed；　but　a　few　beads　or　other
trifles　were　always　forthcoming　as　presents。

Gimoro　had　been　very　unfortunate　in　losing　his　children　when　young；　and
I　understood　that　the　mortality　was　very　great　among　all　infants　from
two　years　old　to　five。

I　attribute　this　to　the　absurd　custom　of　public　night　nurseries。
According　to　the　population　of　the　village；　there　are　certain　houses
built　upon　pedestals　or　stone　supports　about　three　feet　from　the　ground。
In　the　clay　wall　of　the　circular　building　is　a　round　hole　about　a　foot
in　diameter；　this　is　the　only　aperture。

At　sunset；　when　the　children　have　been　fed；　they　are　put　to　bed　in　the
simplest　manner；　by　being　thrust　headforemost　through　the　hole　in　the
wall；　assisted；　if　refractory；　by　a　smack　behind；　until　the　night
nursery　shall　have　received　the　limited　number。　The　aperture　is　then
stopped　up　with　a　bundle　of　grass　if　the　nights　are　cool。

The　children　lie　together　on　the　clay　floor　like　a　litter　of　young
puppies；　and　breathe　the　foulest　air　until　morning；　at　which　time　they
are　released　from　the　suffocating　oven；　to　be　suddenly　exposed　to　the
chilly　daybreak。　Their　naked　little　bodies　shiver　round　a　fire　until　the
sun　warms　them；　but　the　seeds　of　diarrhoea　and　dysentery　have　already
been　sown。

It　may　be　readily　imagined　that　accidents　frequently　occur　in　the　great
hunts　already　described；　as　it　is　quite　impossible　to　speculate　upon　the
species　of　animal　that　may　be　driven　into　the　net。　A　fine　little　lad　of
about　eleven　years　was　killed　by　a　leopard　within　a　mile　of　my　Fatiko
station。　The　grass　had　been　fired；　and　the　animals　instinctively　knew
that　they　were　pursued。

The　boy　went　to　drink　at　a　stream　close　to　some　high　reeds；　when　a
leopard　pounced　upon　him　without　the　slightest　warning。　A　native　who　was
close　to　the　spot　rushed　up　to　the　rescue；　and　threw　his　spear　with　such
dexterity　that　he　struck　the　leopard　through　the　neck　while　it　had　the
boy　in　its　mouth；　killing　it　upon　the　spot。　The　boy　was　immediately
brought　to　me；　but　the　lungs　were　lacerated；　and　he　died　during　the
night。

On　another　occasion　five　men　were　wounded　（two　fatally）　by　a　lioness；
which　fought　so　gallantly　that　she　at　length　escaped　from　her　assailants
with　two　spears　in　her　body。

I　was　not　present　on　that　occasion；　but　I　have　frequently　admired　the
pluck　of　the　Shooli　natives；　who　attack　every　animal　with　the　simple
hunting…spear；　which　of　course　necessitates　a　close　approach。

On　30th　December　I　went　out　with　a　few　natives　on　the　Fabbo　road；　simply
to　shoot　in　order　to　procure　meat　for　the　camp。　We　were　about　ten　miles
from　the　station；　and　the　game　was　so　wild　on　the　open　prairies　that　we
found　it　impossible　to　approach　within　shot。　We　had　seen　great　numbers
of　the　beautiful　leucotis　antelope　（rather　larger　than　a　fine　fallow
buck）；　also　hartebeest　（Antelope　bubalis）；　all　of　which　had　quitted　the
clean　ground　which　had　recently　been　burnt；　and　had　retired　to　the　high
grass　upon　a　long　sloping　undulation。

Among　our　natives　were　two　men　who　were　the　owners　of　the　manor；　they
therefore　proposed　that　we　should　place　the　guns　in　position；　while　they
should　march　up　to　windward；　and　fire　the　grass　in　the　usual　manner。

Lieutenant　Baker　was　placed　about　300　yards　to　my　left；　and　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　about　150　paces　to　my　right。　As　we　faced　the　high　grass　we
had　the　ground　clear　at　our　backs；　as　the　young　herbage　was　just
sprouting　after　the　recent　burning。

As　usual；　I　was　concealed　by　a　large　ant…hill；　behind　which；　my　two　boys
Saat　and　Bellaal　squatted　with　my　spare　guns。　About　100　yards　before　me；
in　a　slight　hollow；　the　grass　was　quite　green；　as　the　depression　had
until　lately　held　water。　This　rank　herbage　would　of　course　stop　the　fire
upon　its　arrival　from　the　sloping　hill…face。　About　forty　yards　from　me
the　grass　was　high　and　dry。

About　half　an　hour　after　the　guns　were　posted　we　heard　the　whistles；　and
shortly　after；　the　smoke　rose　in　various　places　until　at　last　a　crescent
of　fire　spread　over　the　hill。　The　wind　was　very　light；　therefore　the
fire　travelled　slowly；　and　the　game　advanced　at　an　easy　pace。　I　now
heard　shots　upon　my　left　at　the　extreme　flank；　where　I　had　posted　a　few
of　the　best　shots　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　including　Ferritch　Ajoke。

I　saw　the　game　breaking　covert　in　herds　of　several　hundreds　in　that
direction。　Presently　Abd…el…Kader　had　a　shot　upon　my　right；　and　I
observed　several　antelopes　bounding　along　upon　the　clear　space　in　our
rear。

I　was　not　in　luck；　but　I　now　saw　a　splendid　buck　leucotis　walking
quietly　through　the　grass；　and　slowly　descending　the　slope　to　the　green
hollow；　which　would　bring　him　straight　towards　me　should　he　keep　this
direction。

Just　at　that　moment　I　saw　a　long　yellow　tail　rise　suddenly　from　the
green　hollow；　and　an　instant　later　I　saw　a　fine　lion；　with　tail　erect；
that　had　evidently　been　disturbed　by　the　advancing　fire。

The　lion　was　down　wind　of　the　buck　leucotis；　which　was　now　close　to　the
unseen　enemy；　and　was　just　descending　the　bank　which　dipped　into　the
green　hollow：　this　would　bring　the　antelope　almost　upon　the　lion's　back。
The　two　animals　suddenly　appeared　to　touch　each　other　as　the　leucotis
jumped　down　the　bank；　and　the　lion　sprang　to　one　side；　apparently　as
much　startled　as　the　antelope；　which　bounded　off　in　another　direction；。
The　lion　now　disappeared　in　the　high　grass；　with　the　head　towards　my
position。

I　whispered　to　my　boys　not　to　be　afraid　should　it　appear　close　to　us；
and　at　the　same　time　I　took　the　spare　gun　from；　Bellal；　and　laid　it
against　the　ant…hill　to　be　in　readiness。　This　was　a　breechloader；　with
buckshot　cartridges　for　small　antelopes。

In　a　few　minutes　I　heard　a　distinct　rustling　in　the　high　grass　before
me。　The　two　boys　were　squatting　on　the　ground　to　my　right。

Presently　a　louder　rustling　in　the　grass；　within　forty　yards　in　my
front；　was　followed　by　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　large　lioness；　who
apparently　saw　the　two　boys；　and　with　her　brilliant　eyes　fixed；　she
advanced　slowly　towards　them。

Not　wishing　to　allow　a　closer　acquaintance；　I　aimed　at　her　chest；　and
fired　the　〃Dutchman。〃

The　lioness　rolled　completely　over；　backwards；　and　three　times　she
turned　convulsive　somersaults；　at　the　same　time　roaring　tremendously；
but　to　my　astonishment　she　appeared　to　recover；　and　I　immediately　fired
my　left…hand　barrel。　At　this　she　charged　in　high　bounds　straight　towards
my　two　boys。

I　had　just　time　to　snatch　up　my　spare　gun　and　show　myself　from　behind
the　ant…hill；　when　the　lioness；　startled　by　my　sudden　appearance；
turned；　and　I　fired　a　charge　of　buck…shot　into　her　hind…quarters　as　she
disappeared　in　the　high　grass　upon　my　right。

I　now　heard　her　groaning　in　a　succession　of　deep　guttural　sounds；　within
fifty　yards　of　me。

In　a　few　minutes　I　heard　a　shot　from　Abd…el…Kader；　and　he　shortly　came
to　tell　me　that　the　wounded　lioness；　with　her　chest　and　shoulder　covered
with　blood；　had　come　close　to　his　hiding…place；　he　had　fired；　and　had
broken　her　ankle　joint；　but　she　was　still　concealed　in　the　grass。

Shooli　and　Gimoro　now　came　up　with　some　of　the　natives；　as　they　had
heard　the　lioness　roar；　and　feared　some　accident　might　have　happened。

These　were　very　plucky　fellows；　and　they　at　once　proposed　to　go　close　up
and　spear　her　in　the　grass；　if　I　would　back　them　up　with　the　rifles。

We　arrived　at　the　supposed　spot；　and　after　a　search　we　distinguished　a
yellowish　mass　within　some　withered　reeds。

Shooli　now　proposed　that　he　should　throw　his　spear；　upon　which　the
lioness　would　certainly　charge　from　her　covert　and　afford　us　a　good
shot；　if　the　guns　were　properly　arranged。

I　would　not　allow　this；　but　I　determined　to　fire　a　shot　at　the　yellow
mass　to　bring　her　out；　if　every　one　would　be　ready　to　receive　her。

Lieutenant　Baker　was　on　my　right；　with　a　double…barrelled　express　rifle
that　carried　a　No。　70　bullet。　This　minute　projectile　was　of　little　use
against　the　charge　of　a　lion。

I　fired　into　the　mass　at　about　twenty　yards'　distance。

The　immediate　reply　was　a　determined　charge；　and　the　enraged　animal　came
bounding　towards　us　with　tremendous　roars。　The　natives　threw　their
spears　but　missed　her。　Mr。　Baker　fired；　but　neither　he　nor　a　left…hand
barrel　from　the　〃Dutchman〃　could　check　her。　Everybody　had　to　run；　and　I
luckily　snatched　a　breechloading　No。　12　smooth…bore　loaded　with　ball
from　a　panic…stricken　lad；　and　rolled　her　over　with　a　shot　in　the　chest
when　she　was　nearly　in　the　midst　of　us。

She　retreated　with　two　or　three　bounds　to　her　original　covert。

I　had　now　reloaded　the　〃Dutchman；〃　and　having　given　orders　that　every
one　should　keep　out　of　the　way；　and　be　ready；　I　went　close　up　to　the
grass　with　Shooli；　and　quickly　discovered　her。　She　was　sitting　up　like　a
dog；　but　was　looking　in　the　opposite　direction；　as　though　expecting　an
enemy　in　that　quarter。

I　was　within　twelve　yards　of　her；　and　I　immediately　put　a　bullet　in　the
back　of　her　neck；　which　dropped　her　dead。

In　her　inside　we　discovered　a　freshly…eaten　leucotis　calf；　which　had
been　simply　divided　by　her　teeth　in　lumps　of　about　two　pounds　each。　This
was　quite　fresh；　and　my　soldiers　and　the　natives　divided　it　among　them
as　a　bonne…bouche。　Nasty　fellows！

The　day's　sport　had　been：One　lioness　killed　by　myself；　one　leucotis
buck　by　Mr。　Baker；　one　leucotis　buck　by　Abd…el…Kader；　two　does　of　the
same　species　by　Ferritch　Ajoke；　and　the　natives　had　speared　three
calves。　Total；　one　lioness　and　seven　antelopes；　ALL　of　which　were　to　be
eaten。

We　reached　home　at　5。40　p。m。；　not　having　had　time　to　eat　anything　since
the　preceding　evening。　The　lioness　measured　nine　feet　six　inches　from
nose　to　tail　extremity。

As　this　work　is　simply　an　account　of　the　principal　events　connected　with
the　Khedive's　expedition；　I　cannot　afford　space　for　many　sporting
incidents。　Game　was　very　abundant；　and　we　generally　kept　the　station
well　supplied；　at　the　same　time　I　gave　large　quantities　of　flesh　to　the
natives。

I　sometimes　sent　a　party　of　my　〃Forty〃　to　hunt；　in　which　sport　they　took
a　great　interest；　and　the　practice　with　the　rifle　improved　their
shooting。

The　natives　throughout　the　country　were　perfectly　happy　and　contented；
but　the　women　had　been　somewhat　disturbed　by　the　accounts　they　had
received　of　our　encounter　with　the　lioness。　They　held　a　meeting　in
Gimoro's　village。

On　the　following　day　both　Gimoro　and　Shooli　arrived　at　my　public　divan
looking　rather　dejected。

They　informed　me　that　the　women；　having　held　a　meeting；　had　arrived　at
the　conclusion；　〃that　the　Pacha　must　not　be　allowed　to　go　out　hunting；
as　he　might　possibly　be　killed　by　a　lion　or　a　buf