ismailia-第50部分

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that　quarter。

I　had　more　than　filled　one　of　the　great　magazines　with　corn：　therefore；
including　the　dhurra　now　on　board　several　vessels；　I　had　about　twelve
months'　supply　for　the　expedition。

Although　my　force　was　terribly　reduced　in　numbers；　the　men　who　remained
were　strong　and　healthy。　I　did　not　despair；　but　I　determined　that　this
reduction　of　military　force　should　NOT　paralyze　the　activity　of　the
expedition；　and　that　in　spite　of　every　intrigue；　I　would　succeed　in　the
main　objects　of　the　enterprise；　the　slave　trade　should　be　suppressed；
and　the　territory　should　be　annexed　to　the　equator。

On　10th　November　I　took　a　hundred　and　fifty　men　in　order　to　make　a
reconnaissance　of　the　country；　at　the　last　cataracts　of　the　White　Nile；
about　six　miles　south　of　our　position。

We　started　early；　and　marched　along　the　high　ground　parallel　with　the
river；　passing　the　spot　where　the　natives　had　attacked　us　some　days
previous。　Nothing　could　exceed　the　beauty　of　this　country　as　an
agricultural　settlement。　The　long；　sloping　undulations　were　ornamented
with　innumerable　villages；　in　all　of　which　were　overflowing　granaries。
On　arrival　at　the　dry　bed　of　a　broad　stream；　we　ascended　a　slope；　and　to
my　astonishment　I　noticed　a　considerable　body　of　natives　who　neither　ran
away　nor　appeared　hostile　in　their　demeanour。　Leaving　my　rifle　with
Monsoor；　I　rode　up　within　fifty　yards　of　them；　apparently　unarmed；　but　I
had　a　pair　of　breech…loading　pistols　in　my　holsters。

My　Bari　interpreter；　Morgian；　now　explained；　that　I　was　only　on　an
exploration；　and　that　I　had　no　intention　of　disturbing　their　property；　I
only　desired　to　communicate　with　their　sheik。

For　the　first　time　I　received　a　civil　answer　from　the　Baris。　They
explained；　that　although　they　were　Baris；　they　had　no　connection　with
the　people　who　had　fought　us。　They　were　governed　by　a　great　sheik　named
Bedden；　whose　territory　was　bounded　by　the　torrent　bed　that　we　had　just
crossed。　They　promised　that　he　should　pay　me　a　visit　on　the　morrow：　in
the　mean　tine；　if　we　required　any　corn；　they　would　supply　us。　This　was　a
politeness　to　which　I　was　quite　unaccustomed。　I　therefore　thanked　them；
but　declined　their　offer；　saying　that　I　wanted　nothing　from　them　except
friendship。

I　now　discovered；　that　these　people　had　never　had　any　communication　with
the　slave…traders；　who　were　afraid　to　molest　so　powerful　a　tribe。

At　parting；　I　gave　them　a　white　handkerchief　as　a　signal　to　our
sentries；　when　they　should　arrive。

We　then　returned　to　our　station；　the　troops　sharing　the　satisfaction
that　I　felt　in　having　at　length　discovered　friends。

On　the　following　day　at　about　3　p。m。　the　sentry　on　the　hill　called　to
the　guard；　that　a　very　large　body　of　natives　was　approaching　the
station。

I　presumed　that　these　were　the　followers　of　Bedden。　I　therefore　ascended
the　slope　and　examined　them　with　the　telescope。

My　suspicions　were　aroused　from　the　extraordinary　number　of　people；　at
least　700　natives　were　accompanying　their　sheik。

I　returned　to　camp；　and　made　arrangements　to　receive　his　visit　with　a
guard　of　honour。　I　drew　up　a　hundred　men　parallel　with　the　river；　about
fifty　yards　from　the　bank；　near　the　bow　of　my　diahbeeah。　Fifty　men　were
in　line　at　right　angles　with　the　river：　thus　the　lines　formed　two　sides
of　a　square。

In　the　front　I　placed　the　fieldpiece　loaded　with　canister　shot。　I
intended　to　receive　Bedden　with　due　honour　in　the　hollow　square　thus
protected。　In　the　event　of　treachery；　his　force　could　be　almost
annihilated　by　one　discharge。

The　hill　sentry　now　reported　the　arrival　of　a　messenger；　who　waved　a
white　handkerchief　on　the　end　of　a　bamboo。　This　was　the　signal　agreed
upon；　and　the　messenger　was　allowed　to　pass。　He　communicated　the　fact　of
Bedden's　approach：　in　a　few　minutes　later　the　great　sheik　arrived。

He　was　very　tall　and　gaunt；　and　without　any　delay；　both　he　and　his
people　were　ushered　into　the　hollow　square；　where　they　all　stuck　their
lances　in　the　ground　and　sat　down。

I　now　sent　for　Bedden　and　a　few　of　his　principal　men　to　the　poop　deck　of
my　diahbeeah；　which；　being　covered　with　carpets；　and　arranged　with　sofas
and　chairs；　was　something　very　astonishing　to　the　great　sheik；　who　had
never　seen　anything　but　a　vessel　in　the　distance。

I　explained　the　objects　of　the　expedition；　at　the　same　time　I　presented
him　with　a　long　Egyptian　blue　shirt　that　reached　to　his　ankles；　and　made
him　look　more　respectable。　A　crimson　sash　round　his　waist；　and　a　red
tarboosh　（fez）　upon　his　head；　improved　his　appearance　wonderfully；　and
he　began　to　feel　at　home。

I　presented　him　with　six　pounds　of　beads　of　various　colours；　together
with　some　strings　of　harness　bells。　Brass　bugles　and　a　large　mirror
attracted　more　attention　than　any　other　curiosities。

I　gave　him　a　brass　bugle；　to　his　great　delight。　The　use　of　the　cannon
was　then　explained　to　him；　and　the　effects　of　the　shell　were　pardonably
exaggerated　to　produce　a　respect　for　the　weapon。

He　gave　us　six　pots　of　merissa　and　some　fowls；　promising　to　come　again
tomorrow。

All　these　people　believe　in　sorcery；　and　each　sheik　possesses　spells　and
conjurers。　Tortoise　shells；　scales　of　the　manis；　lions'　claws；　and　those
of　the　leopard；　roots；　knots　of　trees　of　peculiar　shape；　and　many　other
things；　are　worn　as　talismans。

My　wife's　parrot　was　supposed　to　be　a　cojoor；　or　fetish。　This　was　the
grey　bird　of　West　Africa；　that　was　unknown　in　these　parts。　The
interpreter　explained　that　〃it　could　speak　like　a　human　being；　and　that
it　flew　about　the　country　and　listened　to　what　people　saidall　of
which　it　repeated　to　its　mistress　and　myself；　thus　we　knew　everything
that　occurred；　and　the　natives　could　not　deceive　us。〃　This　parrot　was
exceedingly　tame；　and　was　never　confined。　It　was　now　walking　about　the
deck；　and　while　its　extraordinary　powers　were　being　described　by　my　Bari
interpreter；　Morgian；　to　the　amazement　and　fear　of　the　natives；　it
advanced　stoutly　to　the　sheik　Bedden；　and　would　have　bitten　his　big　toe
had　he　not　quickly　jumped　up　and　taken　leave。

The　magnetic　battery　and　the　large　musical　box　were　also　believed　to　be
magic。

At　sunset；　the　great　sheik　departed　in　the　best　of　spirits；　with　all　his
people；　as　he　had　drunk　a　tumbler　of　Marsala　before　he　started；　in　order
to　try　the　quality　of　our　merissa。

The　population　of　this　country　is　very　large；　and　the　natives　are　good
agriculturists。　Although　the　soil　is　stony；　it　is　very　productive；　as
the　cultivation　is　carefully　attended　to。　Dhurra；　sesame；　dochan；　and
beans；　in　addition　to　a　species　of　Hibiscus　which　produces　an　edible
seed　and　also　a　fine　fibre；　are　sown　in　exact　oblongs　or　squares
resembling　the　plots　in　allotment…grounds　in　England。　Near　the　villages
are　large　heaps　of　manure；　collected　from　the　cattle　zareebas。　These　are
mixed　with　the　sweepings　of　the　stations；　and　the　ashes　from　the
cattle…fires；　and　are　divided　when　required　among　the　proprietors　of　the
herds。

Each　cow　of　the　zareeba　is　entitled　to　a　certain　measure　of　manure　at
the　commencement　of　the　rains；　when　all　hands　turn　out　to　cultivate；
thus　the　owner　of　many　cows　is　enabled　to　farm　a　large　area。

The　cows　are　all　herded　in　one　or　two　pens；　thus　the　whole　manure　is
heaped；　and；　when　divided；　is　measured　in　large　baskets。　It　is　then
distributed　very　thickly　over　the　field；　and　is　roughly　hoed　with　the
iron　molote；　the　seed　been　thrown　upon　the　manure　broadcast；　previous　to
the　hoeing。

The　geological　appearance　of　the　country　would　suggest　the　presence　of
precious　metals。　Large　masses　of　rose…coloured　and　icy…white　quartz
project　from　the　surface　in　dikes。　These　run　for　miles　in　tolerably
direct　lines；　like　walls；　from　west　to　east。　Generally　the　rocks　are
granitic；　consisting　of　syenite　and　gneiss；　with　micacious　schist　in　the
lower　valleys。　Occasionally；　dikes　of　basalt　break　through　the　surface；
which　is　generally　much　denuded；　and　the　rocks　are　weather…worn　and
decomposed。

I　have　frequently　washed　for　gold　in　the　most　likely　spots　among　the
deep　holes　of　ravines；　where　the　torrents　have　worn　away　the　bed；　but　I
have　found　no　sign　of　either　precious　stones　or　metals。　Magnetic　iron
ore　in　large　quantities　is　the　only　metal　to　be　discovered　in　the
river…beds。

On　13th　November；　at　sunrise；　Lieutenant　Baker　started　with　the　troops
to　convey　corn　from　a　distant　village。　I　was　sitting　on　the　poop…deck　of
the　diahbeeah；　enjoying　a　pipe　and　a　cup　of　coffee；　when　he　suddenly
galloped　back　with　the　news　that　a　herd　of　bull　elephants　was
approaching　from　the　west。　I　was　not　prepared　for　elephant…shooting；　and
I　recommended　him　to　return　to　the　troops；　who　would　otherwise　waste
their　time。　I　had　no　suspicion　that　elephants　would　approach　our
position　after　having　been　disturbed　by　the　soldiers；　in　a　country　that
was　perfectly　open。

Lieutenant　Baker　cantered　back　to　his　men；　while　I　commenced　to　write　up
my　daily　journal　according　to　my　daily　custom。

In　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　the　sentry　reported　a　herd　of　elephants。
All　my　people　clambered　up　upon　the　googoos　and　buts　to　obtain　a　good
view　of　the　herd；　which　from　the　high　poop…deck　of　the　diahbeeah　we
could　see　distinctly。

There　were　eleven　bulls；　and　they　were　marching　in　close　order　along　the
bank　of　the　river；　approaching　us　at　about　400　yards'　distance。

I　should　have　thought　it　almost　as　likely　to　meet　a　herd　of　elephants　in
Hyde　Park　as　to　find　them　in　this　open　and　thickly…populated　country。　I
now　distinguished　natives　along　the　distant　heights；　all　of　whom　were
attracted　by　the　uncommon　occurrence。

In　the　mean　time　the　elephants　approached；　swinging　their　trunks　and
huge　ears　to　and　fro；　apparently　unconscious　of　the　presence　of　the
vessels　and　people。

I　always　kept　my　guns　and　ammunition　in　beautiful　order；　arranged　on　a
rack　in　the　cabin。　On　the　left…hand　side　were　the　shotguns；　i。e。；　two
breechloading　No。　12；　four　muzzleloading　No。　10。　On　the　right；　the
rifles：　the　little　〃Dutchman；〃　two　breechloading　Reilly　No。　8；　two
muzzleloading　Holland　half…pounders；　that　carried　an　iron　lead…coated
explosive　shell；　containing　a　bursting　charge　of　half　an　ounce　of　fine
grain　powder。　These　two　elephant　rifles　were　very　hard　hitter