Ismailia

now in the magazines, was only sufficient

neral disaffection among

ere was a general dislike, not to me personally, but to the system of rigid discipline tha

open war, I should forbid the capture of women and chi

into their hands; and it was a hard case that, after all the trouble and difficulti

dy described the direct disobedience of the officers in having purchased 126 slaves secretly from the slave-hunters' station during the voyage. A slave trade would quickly spring up between the Khedive's off

established afforded justice and protection to all, whether freeman or slave. I had not interfered with the slaves that had been the property of officers prior to

ction. He was streaming with blood, and had been shamefully ill-used by his master, who was a captain in the Egyptian regiment. The boy demanded his freedom, and I immediately granted his release (This boy, named

hat had an excellent effect in favour of the

e position with patience; and I could not help admitting that this was a natural

uppress the slave trade; therefore that slave trade should be suppressed; and I trusted that time would eventually giv

than the confidence of pure equity to be obtained without delay. At all hours I was accessible, and even the complaints of little children were attended to with the same attention that was bestowed upon

ved them greatly. Since the mutiny of the black division at Taka, in the year 1865, when they murde

comrades would probably mutiny, should he be a general favourite. The extreme lax

mmence indiscriminate pillage: the officers mingled with their men in a race for plunder. Several soldiers had been killed by the natives upon such occasions, when separated fr

hich enabled me to act decidedly. My lieutenant-colonel, Abd-el-Kader,

cipal actors seized and laid down on the instant in the centre

rly; and I followed up the principle of stern punishment until I obtained an

nergy in their movements very unlike the Egyptians; they o

officers had always looked forward to the glorious opportunity of procuring a few slaves in Central Africa, although they could not exactly define t

closely cut, and the diahbeeah, which was our home, lay snugly alongside the bank, close to which was a little summer-house, surrounded by a prolific garden. This was a little gem of civilization set in the middle of savage Africa. My "Forty

household duties, in addition to half a dozen excellent boys, who were all neatly clothed, and kept in admirable discipline. Among these was the Abyssinian boy, "Amam," who had lately received his freedom. He was a pretty little lad, a

. She was a good old soul, but wonderfully fond of fine clothes; and on great occasions she always turned out in clouds of snowy muslin with red edges and fringe, like a yo

poral of the gallant "Forty Thieves" passed by. Old Karka was actually accused of sending presents of food, carefully cooked by her own hands, to the house of this same corporal, Abdullah, thus app

and that of head-quarters at Gondokoro: at one, all was cont

rs, that he should be supplied with men for public works, we

bottomed barge to assist in transporting corn from the islands south of Regiaf. They had not been in the best health, but they neve

I had given orders that thirty vessels s

herefore I hoped there would be no difficulty in the return voyage to Khartoum with empty vessels, and the stream in their favour. Had I returned them earlier, I should have been obliged to victual the

ed many men, and had laid the seeds of fatal complaints among many others. The men's hearts had been broken at the onset. There was even now a feeling of despair of the possibility of receiving supplies and reinforcements by river from Khartoum. We appeared to have

ve had no difficulty, as I could have quickly overcome the scruples of my officers by direct reports of thei

. In former days this would have been a matter of course, and the fact of a connection with the Soudan government would have supported d

I could easily appreciate the feelings of others, who

no matter what the obstacles

appearance of languor, rapid action of the heart, scantiness of urine, costiveness, swelling of the forehead above the eyes, which extended rapidly to the whole

ied that the usual hollow above the eyes was rather full. This fatal symptom was too true a warning. H

that had started with me from Cairo. In addition t

dokoro. Rain had fallen in the vicinity; but this unfortunate locality is very subject to droughts, as the rain-clouds are attracted by neighbouring mountains, where they expend themselves. The rich soil of the river islands will always insure a crop, as the roots penetrate to a depth whe

urney to Belinian to request my permission to depart,

im from my journal the ent

t out at last. As I have long expected,

d seconding the declaration with a petition embodying the same request to the full colonel. The letter from Raouf Bey supported the petitions and seconded the general complaint. The burden of this lengthy and carefully-arra

there were three separ

, they were all written

ere the result of dicta

spiracy to the colonel,

u S

nels; the latter should support and forward the petition, together with a letter from themselves; the colonel should then forward this general and irresistible expression

declare, that the expedition must return to Khartoum, as there is

slaves during the journey from Tewfikeeyah, thus adding to the numb

inian; and when in the midst of plenty they will not collect it. Thus the Khedive's officers would actually abandon the

ders! no matter whether they mutiny or not. I sha

ould have revelled in his success. I made no remarks upon the cond

usted through every bone. It appeared as though all hope of success wa

rs; Mr. Higginbotham was ill, as were also some of the Englishmen and Mr. Marcopolo. N

y, with instructions not to mention the le

h six companies of troo

it me at hea

rdered three noggurs to be prepared, together with one sma

sh straight for the Bari islands, south of Regif hill. Should I be able to procu

ed with those of Belinian, and had taken charge of their

at this season could be navigated without difficulty. We now crossed over to the west bank, and th

lations of open, park-like land to the river's bank. Here and there fine ornamental trees were dotted

numerous population. The natives poured out of their various stations leaping, b

ks protruded from the surface. We therefore continued to tow the vessels close to the

I proceeded to forcible measures. I therefore landed and advanced a few hundred paces inland. There were many curious rocks in this neigh

d twenty paces. My interpreter now conversed with them, saying that I had not come to fight, but to purchase corn, that I woul

language, and said-"You need not offer us your cattle, as we

ys afforded them every opportunity for peaceful arrangements, and returned civil replies to their abusive and coarse insults. This gave them the advantage of selecting their own convenience for an attack. A

ve corn. Their granaries were overflowing, while mine were empty. I had many thousand cattle in addition to all kinds of merchandise. I desired fai

s at my elbow. I declined the invitation, to the great disappointment of my men; at the same tim

bugler to soun

drums and bugles. I now made a display of force, and once more addressed the natives, explaining t

ill cry which is used by them generally in derision and contempt of an enemy. The last words we distinguished as the

the country to the south of Regiaf was immensely populous, and the natives were more drea

a hut; but they were simply to examine the villages as they passed through, by tapping the numerous wicker googoos or granaries with their hands, to prove whether

ned at least fifteen googoos, nearly all of which were quite full of corn. The entire country was overflowing with dhurra and sesame. As f

appeared to be nothing but a line of granaries, as I could distinguish with the telescope the num

ed in the desert. Thank God, we were delivered from the danger

at there was no corn in the country, therefore they must retu

ourse they were ignorant of the country, but that if they relied upon me, I should always lead them ("Inshallah!") into a land of plenty. The black officers now began t

d another; "we couldn't e

y day in this country," excl

tand the relief offered by a sudden shift of wind in the moment of extremity. Such experience alone can allow

e, without a moment's delay, the opportunity, while the tro

hey had made from the harvest at Belinian. I knew the country, and this was the only true granary that admitted of river transport to Gondokoro. If they neglected this opportunity, the rations would again be reduced; but upon no account whatever should I permit the return to Khart

them "to thank God, and to

ank beneath them. Having sent for Raouf Bey, I made no other remark, than to give the orders necessary for the night. This melancholy

aged, produced some pumpkin soup, as he termed it, which was composed of a very watery pumpkin boiled in water without salt. The next dish was the ve

the mosquitoes would allow me. I lay as close to the smoke as possible, with a comfortable log of wood for a pillow, and pondered o

outh, and having passed about three hours in exploration, I formed two stations in excellent positions, and divided my men equally under Lieutenant-Colonel Achmet and Major Abdullah. These stations were about a mile apart,

ondokoro in the little dingy. I did not wish to take a large vessel, therefore I ordered Raouf Bey to fill the noggurs with corn as rapidly as possible, and to start them off whe

atmen to row, accompanied by Monso

th good pulling, we reached head-quarters in one hour and t

dokoro alone, had given rise to all kinds of surmises, and when I reached the shore, a crowd of officers, soldie

berated, and they always imagined that if they should arrive at Khartoum, they would be sold. This home influence was of service to me. In conversation with my "Forty Thieves" I had suggested, that perhaps on their arrival at Khartoum, the government might not permit them to retain so many

re placed all my luggage in the magazine, cleared out the diahbeeah, and towed her up

vessels that I had left in his charge. He had only occupied one island, and the natives were hard at wo

tch to Khartoum all the really sick and incapable, but upon no acco

that cultivated islands existed further up the river. I therefore instructed Lieutenant Baker to

s, all of which had fallen short. I immediately started with my diahbeeah and reinforcements, and united with Lieutenant Baker. I had now three large islands in possession. The fertility of the soil was extraordinary. The cultivation was confined to the

ies and Gondokoro, I received notice from the mainland that the work of the two stations under Lieutenant-Colonel Achmet and Major Abdullah was concluded.

upy the villages on the high land, exactly opposite my vessels. The country was beautifully open, like a fine

ng ducks, which swarmed in the neighbouring ponds and swamps. At about 4.30 p.m. I heard rapid file-firing in the distance, and I concluded that Major Abdullah's detachment, that was ho

suddenly attacked by the natives in great force. This was a fair stand-up fight in the open. The big drums a

the black figures of the naked Baris; thus we could see the a

village. The natives were yelling in all directions, and I never before saw them make such a good fight upon the open ground. They not only outflanked, but entirely surrounded Abdullah's detachment of ninety men. The

the requisite ammunition, in readiness to support Abdullah with a flank attack upon the natives, by crossing the river, sho

th the eight artillerymen belonging to the gun. The remainder of "The

eat. I heard the bugle sound "the advance," and we could see the troops advancing and firing in pursuit. The Baris ceased blo

red, and the sun having set, dark

and dense hedge of euphorbia; the thick, fleshy branches of this tree are the best protection against arrows. I ordered the boat with the gun to remain in readiness, so as

s in the middle of the river. It was therefore necessary to pass up stream between two islands, and then, by rounding the head of a point, to descend through a channel about a hundred yards wide between the western island and the mainland. This occupied about an hour, and we d

rs of "The Forty," I walked along the river's bank towards the village occupied by Major Abdullah's detachment, who

's bank: thus as we walked towards Abdullah's village, a

ed upon high ground, about 600 yards from the river, when I noticed a number

f corn," remarked Monsoor; "they

's. I at once perceived that the

ssels by about a mile, and the troops under Major

the river on our right flank, but we might have been attacked and cut

elt quite at our ease, we accomplished the move very leisurely, and st

of the "Forty Thieves," to row down the river, and to recall Abdullah's detachment, that must have retreated for som

g, and had retreated upon Lieutenant-Colonel Achmet's position, instead of joining me according to orders. At the same time my vessel

nd men when left to themselves. If the natives had repeated the

meet the detachment on their return, when recalled by Mohammed Deii. During the march I continued to shoot ducks, as this amuseme

stream. I now discovered that she was towing the boat that I had sent down the river to recall Abdullah's detachment. (This was a ves

l and ordered her to land the troops (with

lah and his gallant company

that he feared a renewed attack, and he was short of ammunition. He had therefo

ten that he could have com

tridge, while the minimum contained eleven rounds; this is what the major considered a short su

ich his troops had repelled without any loss to themselves either killed or wounded. At the same

in various spots where the ground was marked with blood, and the cleanly-picked skeleton of a man, lying close to the euphorbia hedge, showed that the Baris had really come to clos

had been cleaned by the vultures; this must have been a stranger who had n

were full of corn. Here I left Major Abdullah and his detachment, with orders to collect all the dhurra from the neighbouring villages, and to form a central depot at his pre

ghbourhood: and hundreds of villa

Lieutenant Baker, with instructions that the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Achmet shoul

ntities of corn in the villages that had been until now undisturbed. To arrive at these villages, it

hbeeah and other vessels lay alongside. My horses were picketed in the centre, and we had transported and erected a great nu

xceedingly steady firing in single shots at a distance, in the direction taken by my sm

orty" I rode at a trot towards the direction of the firing. I had left a small guard wi

flowing through the valley, and high mountains in the distance, I came suddenly upon a village, where I observed two of my "Forty" mounted as sentries upon the summits of the tallest hu

d almost devoid of trees. The fine, swelling undulations were intersected with deep rocky ravines

wing of horns and beating of drums. Immense numbers of natives were to be seen in all parts of the view before us. Th

ting their ammunition uselessly, and destroying th

s. This front, with the men in scarlet uniform, made a tolerable show. I rode at the lead on a very beautiful Arab, "Greedy

for a chorus of yells upon all sides; the big drums sounded louder

rows, gesticulating and leaping from side to side in their u

As we descended a ravine and marched up the opposite incline, I found that the natives retired over the next u

between us, I at once understood their tactics. It was now five o'clock; the sun would set within an hour, and their intention was to draw us forward until darkness wo

ll and march quickly up the next undulation, so as to deceive the enemy with the idea of a precipitate retreat. This would in

, and there to conceal them in a deserted village which I had noticed during our advance. This would be an ambush that wou

precipitate a march down the hill that my horse was forced into a jog-trot. I heard the savage yells of t

began to descend the hill just as we had crossed the summit of the high ground; thus they lost sight of us, as we quickly concealed ourselves behind the huts and gr

ht flank as we faced about, perceived the snare, and endeavoured t

unheeded by the enemy in our rear,

iven. The natives on our right flank now passed forward, which would bring them in our rear. At the same t

h large ivory bracelets upon his arms. This fellow was in adva

over. The yells increased on all sides, the whistles of the antelopes' horns now sounded

ught in the arms of his comrades and dragged away as they precip

, after the retreating natives. For about a minute the natives faced them and shot their arrows, but the gallant fifteen coolly knelt upon the clear ground, and taking steady rests

to 1,000 paces. Many of them were actually in our rear, but I noticed that these fellows were already openin

tand in the open grou

ullet marked its bit as the puff of dust

, and suddenly I perceived a general skedaddle, as those upon our right flank started off in full speed, shouting and yelling to alarm the rest. I now distinguished a body of troops hurrying at the double down the hill-side in the distance. These were commanded

etreat: and having joined forces, w

and my little camp abou