Ismailia

abit of swimming to and fro with their cattle, these wily creatures had been always accustomed to claim a toll in the shape of a cow, calf, or nigger. Two of Abo

eature's eyes; his comrades at the same time assisted and rescued him from absolute destruction; but

a species of water-convolvulus that make an excellent spinach; this plant is rooted on the muddy

r united efforts prevented him from being dragged into the water. The crocodile, having tasted blood, would not quit its hold, but tugged and wrenched the arm completely off at the elbow-j

xtraordinary; it was only sighted up to 250 yards, but by taking the head very full, it carried with great precision up to 300. I could generally make certain of crocodiles if basking on a sandbank within a hundred yards, as I could put the bullet exactly in the right place, either behind the eye, or right through the centre of the shoulder. This handy rifle

ned. This was close to our diahbeeah; and the water being s

down, I quietly retreated inland from the bank, and then running forward, I crept gently towards the rush. Stooping as low as possible, I advanced till very near the bank (upon which grew tufts of grass), until, by slowly raising my head, I could observe the head of the crocodile in the same position, not more than twenty-six or twenty-eight yards from me. At that distance, the Dutchman could hit a h

le by a rope fastened round the body behind the fore-legs. This was quickly accomplished, and the men remained knee-deep hauling upon the rope to prevent

s at first, but they will begin instinctively to move the limbs and tail a few minutes after receiving the shot. If lying upon a sand-bank, or in deep water, they

tly the creature really began to struggle, and the united efforts of the men could hardly restrain it from getting into deeper water. The monster now began to yawn, which so terrified the men that they would have dropped the rope and fled had they not been afraid of the consequences, as I was addressing them rather forcibly from the bank. I put another shot through the

, where it was carefully measured with a tape, and showed a

d with the pebbles was a greenish, slimy matter that appeared woolly. In the midst of this were three undeniable witnesses that convicted the crocodile of wilful murder. A

ry small creature of this species may carry away a man while swimming. The crocodile does not attempt to swallow an animal at once, but having

rrigation. Two men could lift and throw out 3,600 gallons per hour. I made the calculation as nearly as possible: the iron buckets contained slightly more than four

ir drill, and I had endeavoured to teach them to shoot accurately. The Egyptians became better shots than the Soudanis, but I much preferred the latter; by deg

e title of the "Forty THIEVES" by which they were always known among the Englis

bly attended to them myself. I had endeavoured to instil a feeling of pride among them, and encouraged them with an idea of their superiority to the other regiments. I actually succeeded in establishing a code of honour throughout the corps, until it was

and a captain, together with two most active and courageous lieutenants, who had lately received their promotion for good conduct: these were my faithful Monsoor Agha, and Ferritch Agba. The young soldier, who had been condemned to be shot for desertion the previo

ize-shooting to give an additional interest to the work. Both officers and men now took an immense pleasure in rifle practice, but it appeared almost im

orant. At length, by constant practice at the target, varying the range from 100 to 300 yards, about a third of the corps became fair shots, and these few were tolerably good judges of distance up to 400 yards. The colonel, Abd-el- Kader, became an excellent shot, as he was an officer who took great interest in his profession. Th

outside their Zouave trouser, and secured by a belt, with ammunition-pouches, round the waist. This uniform, with

orps complete consisted of forty-eight sniders; but together

up this feeling, and to create emulation among the men of different tribes; thus, a native of Pongo would assume a superiority over a Dinka, although the Dinka considered himself of a higher class than a Pongo. A Noba regarded himself as superior to all others. But by degrees I established a principle that was generally accepted by them all-that an old soldier with a good reputation should take precedence of all others, without reference to caste

the commencement of a great moral reform, that resulted in an improved tone

through fire or water, without the slightest hesitation. In action, "The Forty" were always in advance, and they were watched with eagerness and even pride by the other regiments: when thrown out as skirmishers they climbed rocks, pushed through jungles, and cleared the enemy from the country with irresistible activity. Promotion from the li

orality. The "Forty Thieves" would not admit a thief; and they became

, is all that is absolutely required to bring a savage within the bounds of good management. A savage who has led a wild and uncontrolled life must first learn to obey authority before any great improvement can be expected. A soldier must obey, and he learns to respect his officers as his superiors; thus, a sa

rom head-quarters, and the arrangements under my personal inspection we

were constantly on the watch for an opportunity of surprising the cattle guards. Concealing themselves behind thick foliage, they stalked

n was dependent only upon "The Forty," while the camp at head-quarters was oc

eight-mould shot, each to be rammed down over the ball in the muskets for the night sentries: these would be more lik

y situated, as a large and deep lake completely defended the north flank for a distance of about 400 yards. The rive

they passed within a few feet of a party of guards concealed behind a white-ant hill. A shot from a musket stretched one Bari dead. The guards pounced upon another and seized him by the throat. This was a native of Belinian; he was accordingly hanged on the following morning to a tree in the pathway

an attempt on the cattle, and

is attacked the cam

d. They met the natives; and Monsoor and Achmet Bash Choush had a nar

r feet six, which was the high

belt were stolen and carried off from the dead man. The shots from the guard immediately alarmed the camp. The horses were saddled, and, attended by Lieutenant Baker, I rode hard in pursuit. The natives had gained the forest and had scattered, but we rode a red-painted savage to bay, who fought to the

ed to surprise both my station

ut one was shot dead by the sentry at Gondokoro

the troops, as it taught them the, necessity of keeping a good look-out; at the same time

Baris a severe lesson; but I made up my mind that when the work should be finished, I would take the fight out of them most thoroughly. They now considered us fair game, that they

ourite method of a Bari attack is during the night, when the darkness reduces the danger of fire-arms. On such occasions they generally halt either in forest or high grass, according to circumstances, about half a mile from the camp they propose to attack. Scouts are sent forward to ascertain the position and

hey suddenly spring upon the sentries, and with wild yells make a general rush upon the camp. This sudden attack would be ext

inland: thus a grand alliance had been made among the tribes. The Baris desired to make friends with their powerful enemy, the Loquia: they accordingly invited this tribe to form an alliance

od and his people, in their camp on the west side of the river, continued to be most frien

I was awakened by the sound

nutes. The bugle sounded the alarm,

but these were shortly succeeded by heavy file-firing from the whole force at the camp. An attack had evidently been made, and a regular fight was going on: i

I was momentarily expecting to hear the sound of cannon, and I was speculating upon the effect that the fire of ten guns loaded with

ring dwindled to dropping shots. I heard the bugles sound "cease firing." I then heard "the advance." Again firing co

more afraid of the "Forty Thieves" than of the entire force. Added to this was the powerful reason that I had only

It appeared that the natives had actually surprised the sentries. We had los

ovided with flaming firebrands, with which they had advanced bravely to the edge of the thorn fence. Had the st

n declared that great numbers of the enemy were killed, but their comrades had carried off the bodies. This was true to a certain

onel in command of the troops, Raouf Bey, could give no satisfactory explanation for the silence of the artillery, but he subsequently told me they HAD FORGOTTEN ITS EXISTENCE in the excitement of the moment. An

itch and earthwork, so that I could leave a garrison without

intrusted to the care of Mr. Higginbotham, the chief engineer, for execution. I gave orders that all hands, including the sailors, should immediately be employed to dig the fos

cows at my own station. The "Forty Thieves" did not require a fort, but the cattle might

men from head-quarters, and we soon had a strong

, and in the death of one of the scouts, shot by the outlying guard through the thigh. Before he died, he confessed that the Belinian and the Loquia, together with the Bari

e Baris declined to attack, as they subsequently declared th

t only were they nearly sure to kill the wily scouts, but patrols at nigh