ismailia-第41部分

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ammunition；　which　they　had　taken　in　various　massacres　of　the
slave…traders'　parties　some　years　before。　On　one　occasion　they　had
killed　126　of　the　traders　in　one　day；　and　had　possessed　themselves　of
their　arms；　with　many　cases　of　cartridges。

On　several　occasions　they　had　destroyed　smaller　parties　with　the　same
result；　and　they　had　never　been　at　peace　with　Abou　Saood　since　he　had
treacherously　murdered　their　Sheik　and　his　family。　Recently　having
allied　with　Abou　Saood's　friends　（the　Baris　of　Gondokoro）；　against　the
government；　some　of　the　Belinian　people　had　ventured　to　trade；　and　had
established　a　communication　with　Abou　Saood's　people；　from　whom　they
purchased　ammunition　in　exchange　for　tobacco。

Having　given　orders　on　the　previous　evening　that　the　men　were　to　be
under　arms　ready　for　the　march　at　1　a。m。；　I　was　annoyed　to　find　that
neither　officers　nor　men　were　prepared　when　I　arrived　punctually　at　the
hour　appointed　at　head…quarters。　The　colonel；　Raouf　Bey；　was　fast
asleep；　and　had　to　be　roused　by　the　sentry。　This　was　a　breach　of
discipline　that　cost　Major　Achmet　Rafik　his　life。　After　some　annoying
delay　I　started　for　Belinian。　At　that　time；　in　the　dark　night；　I　was　not
aware　that　Achmet　Rafik　was　absent。　This　officer　was　a　thorough…bred
Turk；　and　he　had　seen　much　service；　having　been　through　the　Crimean　war；
and　also　in　that　of　Arabia；　under　Abbas　Pacha。　He　ought　to　have　known
better；　but　he　shared　the　prevalent　feeling　of　discontent；　thus；　instead
of　being　on　the　alert　and　at　his　post；　he　was　asleep　when　the　troops
started　on　their　night　march。

When　awakened；　he　hastily　dressed；　buckled　on　his　sword　and　revolver；
and　taking　a　double…barrelled　gun　in　his　hand　he　endeavoured　to　follow
the　troops；　but　mistook　the　direction；　and　lost　his　way　in　the　dark。

We　arrived　at　the　open　valley　of　Belinian　at　day…break；　but　native
scouts　had　already　given　the　alarm　of　our　approach。　There　were　some
hundred　villages　situated　in　the　vale　and　on　the　heights　along　the　base
of　the　mountain；　but　at　this　season　only　the　tops　of　the　huts　were
visible　above　the　high　dhurra；　which　was　just　ripened；　although　the
general　harvest　had　not　yet　commenced。

There　is　no　covert　so　much　in　favour　of　native　warfare　as　the　high
dhurra；　which　perfectly　conceals　their　movements；　at　the　same　time　that
it　is　easily　passed　through　at　speed。

The　Bari　drums　were　beating　throughout　the　country；　and　their　horns　were
sounding　in　all　directions。　Clearing　the　way　with　skirmishers；　we
marched　along　a　good　path　for　about　four　miles　parallel　with　the　base　of
the　mountain；　until　we　arrived　at　a　plain　or　bottom；　which　bore　the
marks　of　cattle…hoofs　in　great　numbers。　This　spot　was　about　thirteen
miles　from　head…quarters　at　Gondokoro。

There　was　no　dhurra　cultivation　on　the　right；　near　the　base　of　the
mountain；　as　the　soil　was　poor　and　sandy：　we　thus　had　a　clear　view　of
the　country。　The　cattle　had　been　driven　off；　and　we　were　only　in　time　to
see　them　disappearing　over　the　distant　high　ground。　The　natives　had
collected　in　large　numbers；　and　seemed　disposed　to　dispute　the　advance
of　the　troops。

The　ground　was　perfectly　clean；　as　the　cattle　had　fed　off　the　grass
until　it　was　as　smooth　as　a　garden　lawn。　From　the　position　we　occupied；
the　country　inclined　upwards　towards　the　base　of　the　mountain；　about　a
mile　and　a　half　distant；　this　interval　abounded　in　villages；　all　of
which　were　defended　by　stockades。　At　the　base　of　the　mountain　were
broken　hills；　composed　of　huge　granite　rocks；　the　foundations　of
mountains　that　had　long　since　decayed。　Upon　all　these　strong　positions
were　the　usual　stockaded　villages。

I　ordered　the　troops　to　extend　in　two　lines；　supported　by　a　reserve　with
the　field…piece　and　rocket…trough。　With　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　in　the
front；　we　advanced　along　the　plain　towards　the　mountain。

The　Baris　now　opened　fire　upon　us　from　their　villages；　from　which　they
were　driven　in　succession；　until　no　enemy　remained　to　oppose　us　except
those　upon　the　high　ground。

Our　right　was　now　protected　by　an　exceedingly　deep　ravine；　which　was　a
watercourse　cut　by　the　torrents　from　the　mountain。　I　accordingly　took　a
party　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　and　following　along　the　edge　of　the
ravine；　ascended　the　slope　that　led　to　the　stockades　upon　the　heights。
Great　numbers　of　natives　had　assembled；　and　were　shouting　the　most
abusive　epithets　in　Arabic　until　we　arrived　at　about　a　hundred　yards
from　the　foremost　stockade。　This　now　opened　fire　upon　us；　the　natives
being　concealed　within；　and　aiming　with　their　muskets　between　the
interstices　of　the　upright　piles。

My　riflemen　now　knelt　down　and　fired　at　the　puffs　of　smoke　as　they
issued　from　the　impenetrable　ironwood　zareebas。　This　was　just　the　work
that　the　Baris　understood；　as　their　position　enabled　them　to　fight
unseen　among　the　numerous　stockades　and　high　rocks　clothed　with　bush。

The　bullets　were　whistling　merrily；　and　presently　a　soldier　by　my　side
was　shot　through　the　fleshy　part　of　the　hip。　I　examined　him；　and　saw
that　the　bullet　bad　passed　through；therefore　he　continued　firing。　A
wife　of　one　of　the　soldiers　was　shot　through　the　calf　of　the　leg。　She
had　accompanied　him　with　a　small　parcel　of　cooking…pots　and　food　from
Gondokoro　that　morning　and　thus　came　under　fire。

The　main　body　was　delayed　in　the　rear；　replying　to　the　fire　of　the　Baris
on　the　other　side　of　the　impassable　ravine。　I　had　only　twenty　men　with
me　in　addition　to　Lieutenant　Baker。　I　therefore　ordered　the　bugler　to
sound　the　〃assembly；〃　as　I　determined　to　attack　the　stockades　with　the
whole　force。

In　a　few　minutes　the　main　body　arrived；　and　formed　for　the　attack。　The
bugles　and　drums　sounded　the　advance；　and　the　troops；　having　fired
several　volleys；　rushed　on　at　the　double　and　stormed　the　position。　This
was　well　executed；　and　the　rush　was　so　unexpected　by　the　Baris；　that　the
stockades　were　taken　at　the　point　of　the　bayonet；　Captain　Morgian
Sherreef　＇*＇　distinguishing　himself　by　the　gallant　manner　in　which　he　
led　his　company；　he　was　the　first　man　to　break　through　the　gateway。

＇*Footnote：　This　officer　was　a　Soudani　who　had　served　under　Marshal
Bazaine　for　four　years　in　Mexico。＇

This　attack　was　something　that　the　Baris　did　not　comprehend。　They　had
only　been　accustomed　to　face　the　slave…hunters'　irregular　companies；　and
they　had　never　seen　a　charge　borne　with　the　bayonet。　They　now　began　to
clamber　up　the　rocks　and　ascend　the　mountain　with　the　activity　of
baboons；　while　a　sharp　fire　from　the　snider　rifles　acted　like　a　spur
upon　their　movements。　A　shell　from　the　gun　now　burst　over　a　number　of
the　enemy　who　had　collected　about　800　yards　in　our　rear。　This　was　an
unmistakable　notice　to　quit。　We　set　fire　to　the　stockades；　and　the　Baris
having　disappeared；　I　selected　a　position　for　a　night's　bivouac。

There　was　a　bad　supply　of　water；　and　we　could　procure；　nothing　but　a
muddy　mixture　which　smelt　strongly　of　goats。　We　had　found　a　number　of
fat　calves　and　sheep；　thus；　having　fixed　upon　a　site　in　the　flat　open
plain；　the　men　collected　firewood；　and　when　the　evening　set　in；　the　camp
fires　were　blazing　and　every　man　was　well　supplied　with　food。

I　doubled　the　sentries　for　the　night；　but　we　remained　undisturbed。

I　was　very　anxious　about　the　major；　Achmet　Rafik；　as　Raouf　Bey　and　the
officers　declared　that　he　would　have　certainly　endeavoured　to　follow　the
troops　rather　than　run　the　risk　of　disobeying　the　orders　he　had
received。　The　Baris　never　take　prisoners；　and　should　they　meet　him；
which　would　be　most　probable；　his　death　was　certain。

On　the　following　morning　I　ordered　an　advance　towards　the　north　side　of
the　plain；　where　I　had　observed　a　line　of　zareebas　upon　elevated　ground
that　commanded　a　view　of　the　plain　and　the　base　of　the　mountain　that　we
had　attacked　yesterday。

On　arrival　upon　the　higher　ground；　I　found　the　country　perfectly　flat
and　completely　covered　with　heavy　crops　of　ripe　dhurra；　in　which　the
zareebas　were　concealed；　with　the　exception　of　the　tops　of　the　huts。
Drums　were　beating　and　horns　blowing　in　all　these　stockades。

I　had　a　suspicion　that　the　Baris　might　have　stationed　sharp…shooters　in
ambush　among　the　high　dhurra。　I　therefore　directed　a　couple　of　rockets
through　the　corn。　The　rush　of　these　unknown　projectiles　produced　a　great
effect；　as　they　burst　through　the　stockade；　and　buzzed　and　whizzed　about
the　huts　within　the　defence。　An　eight…pound　shell　from　the　gun　now
crashed　through　the　stockade　and　went　howling　along　through　the　dense
fields　of　dhurra；　until　it　exploded　about　500　yards　in　the　rear。

The　bugle　immediately　sounded　the　advance　with　the　bayonet；　and　the
troops　made　a　rush　forward　through　the　corn　and　captured　the　stockade。

We　now　found　no　less　than　six　of　these　powerful　inclosures　within　an
area　of　about　four　acres。　These　would　form　an　admirable　position。　I
therefore　gave　orders　that　the　corn　should　be　immediately　cleared　away
so　as　to　leave　an　open　space。　Guards　were　posted　in　various　places；
sentries　were　placed　on　the　summits　of　the　tallest　huts　to　keep　a　good
look…out；　while　the　remainder　of　the　force　set　to　work　and　commenced
clearing。　By　sunset　we　had　cut　down　about　six　acres。

I　gave　orders　to　Raouf　Bey　to　divide　the　troops　in　four　stockades；　which
formed　a　sort　of　quadrilateral。　This　officer　suggested　that　the　men
might　all　be　massacred　by　a　Bari　night…attack　if　thus　divided；　and　he
proposed　to　inclose　the　whole　force　of　450　men　within　one　zareeba；　like
sheep　or　cattle！　In　spite　of　our　successes；　the　officers　had　a　wholesome
dread　of　the　Baris；　that　relieved　me　from　all　apprehensions　of　their
erring　by　an　excess　of　rashness。

I　divided　the　soldiers　of　the　line　in　three　zareebas；　while　I　occupied
the　fourth　with　Lieutenant　Baker　and　twenty　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves。〃

Every　day　was　now　passed　in　collecting　corn；　but　the　soldiers　as　usual
worked　badly。　In　the　mean　time　the　natives　worked　most　energetically
during　the　night；　and　carried　off　ten　times　the　amount　gathered　by　the
troops。　There　was　so　bad　a　feeling　among　the　officers；　that　it　was　easy
to　perceive　they　were　predetermined　to　neglect　this　opportunity　of
filling　our　granaries。

The　Baris　were　excellent　diplomatists；　and；　seeing　that　w