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consideration；　and　they　were　quite　determined。　They　would　not　listen　to
him；　or　be　persuaded　to　anything　they　disliked。　They　never　had　carried；
and　they　never　would。〃

I　had　the　two　natives　with　me　who　had　resided　for　some　time　in　our
station　at　Gondokoro。　One　of　these　men；　named　Pittia；　endeavoured　to
persuade　Bedden　to　beat　his　nogara　（big　drum）　and　to　summon　his　tribe；
he　might　then；　in　my　presence；　explain　the　work　proposed；　and　his　people
would　see　the　cows　which　they　would　receive　as　payment　for　their　labour。

Bedden　looked　very　ill　at　his　ease；　but　after　some　delay；　he　rose　from
his　seat；　and　declared　his　intention　of　immediately　beating　his　nogara。
He　took　leave　and　departed　with　his　people。

From　my　experience　of　Baris；　I　felt　sure　that　I　should　never　see　Bedden
again。

He　had　hardly　left　the　tent；　when　Pittia　exclaimed；　〃I　will　follow　him
and　listen　to　what　he　says　to　his　people。　I　believe　he　will　tell　them
NOT　to　carry　the　loads。〃　Pittia　immediately　disappeared。

Many　natives　had　collected　on　the　east　side　of　the　river；　where　my
vessels　had　now　formed　a　line　alone　the　bank；　I　therefore　crossed　over
in　the　dingy　to　converse　with　them　in　the　faint　hope　of　securing
carriers。

The　natives　were　squatting　about　in　small　groups；　and　they　listened
coldly　to　all　I　had　to　say。　The　only　answer　I　could　obtain　was；　〃that
they　belonged　to　Bedden；　and　if　he　told　them　to　carry　our　things；　they
would　obey；　but　without　his　order　they　could　do　nothing。〃

This　is　the　regular　African　diplomacy　when　work　is　required。　The　people
say；　〃We　must　receive　orders　from　our　sheik。〃　The　sheik　says；　〃I　am
willing；　but　my　people　will　not　obey　me。〃　It　is　this　passive　resistance
that　may　ruin　an　expedition。

My　first　exploration　in　Africa　must　necessarily　have　failed　had　I　not
been　provided　with　transport　animals。　The　readers　of　〃The　Albert
N'yanza〃　may　remember　that　I　could　not　obtain　a　single　native；　and　that
I　started　from　Gondokoro　by　moonlight　without　even　an　interpreter　or
guide。

The　horrible　state　of　the　White　Nile　had　prevented　all　possibility　of
conveying　camels　from　Khartoum。　My　carts　and　camel　harness　were
prepared；　but　the　invaluable　animals　could　not　be　transported。　I　was
thus　dependent　upon　such　rotten　reeds　as　native　promises。

No　one　who　is　inexperienced　in　African　travel　can　realize　the　hopeless
position　of　being　left　with　a　mass　of　material　without　any　possibility
of　transporting　it。

The　traveller　may　sit　upon　his　box　until　he　stiffens　into　a　monument　of
patience　and　despair；　but　the　box　will　not　move　without　a　carrier。　There
is　only　one　method　of　travelling　successfully；　and　this　necessitates　the
introduction　of　transport　animals；　where　the　baggage　is　heavy　and　upon
an　extensive　scale。

I　felt　perfectly　helpless。　My　colonel；　Abd…el…Kader；　advised　me　to　seize
the　sheik；　Bedden；　and　to　tie　him　up　until　his　people　should　have
delivered　all　the　effects　at　Lobore。

This　I　might　have　done；　but　it　might　also　have　occasioned　war；　which
would　prevent　the　possibility　of　securing　carriers。　I　should　also　incur
the　responsibility　of　having　provoked　the　war　by　an　act　which；　although
necessary；　could　hardly　be　justified　according　to　civilized　ideas。

I　had　very　little　hope；　but　I　had　so　frequently　seen　a　sudden　ray　of
good　fortune　when　all　had　looked　dark　and　cloudy；　that　I　went　to　bed　at
night　trusting　that　something　might　turn　up　in　our　favour　to…morrow。

On　29th　January；　1872；　Pittia　returned　with　bad　news。　Bedden　had　sent　me
a　laconic　message　that　〃he　should　not　call　again；　and　that　his　people
declined　to　carry　the　baggage。〃

Pittia　explained　that　the　natives　had　all　left　the　neighbourhood
together　with　their　sheik；　therefore　it　would　be　well　not　to　allow　the
soldiers　to　stray　far　from　camp。

This　was　the　gross　ingratitude　exhibited　by　Bedden　and　his　people。　Not
only　had　I　scrupulously　respected　all　their　property；　but　I　had　even
placed　sentries　over　their　tobacco　gardens　to　prevent　the　possibility　of
theft。

The　absence　of　the　women　and　children　had　been　a　certain　sign　of
ill…will。

It　was　necessary　to　consider　what　should　be　done。　We　were　perfectly
helpless。

I　had　about　2；500　head　of　cattle　and　1；800　sheep。　These　animals　were
driven　every　evening　to　the　margin　of　the　river；　and　were　only　protected
at　night　by　a　line　of　soldiers　who　slept　around　them。

The　conduct　of　the　natives　filled　me　with　suspicions。　The　sight　of　so
large　a　herd　without　protection　might　have　excited　their　cupidity。　They
had　expected　my　arrival　with　this　grand　supply　of　cattle；　and　instead　of
finding　their　villages　occupied；　I　had　observed　that　their　own　herds　had
been　driven　off　for　concealment；　not　a　woman　or　child　was　to　be　seen　in
the　country；　the　natives　had　refused　to　carry；　and；　lastly；　their　sheik
and　his　people　had　absolutely　absconded。

In　the　mean　time　my　cattle　were　unprotected　at　night；　thus；　should　the
natives　make　a　sudden　attack　in　the　darkness；　there　would　be　a　regular
stampede；　as　the　large　herd　would　be　seized　with　a　panic　at　the　red
flashes　of　the　muskets　during　the　attack；　and　they　would　scatter　all
over　the　country；　and　never　be　seen　again。

The　natives　had　probably　considered　that；　instead　of　carrying　our　loads；
and　thereby　earning　a　cow　per　man；　it　might　save　them　much　trouble
should　they　possess　themselves　of　our　cattle　without　the　necessity　of
carrying　the　baggage。

From　my　knowledge　of　the　brutal　character　of　all　Baris；　I　arrived　at　the
above　conclusion。

I　at　once　gave　orders　to　secure　the　cattle。　At　a　distance　of　about　half
a　mile；　there　were　three　small　villages　on　the　high　sloping　ground；
situated　about　eighty　yards　apart；　and　forming　a　triangle。　I　instructed
my　men　to　make　an　inclosure；　by　connecting　each　village　with　a　strong
hedge　of　thorns。

The　country　was　generally　bare　of　trees；　but　fortunately　there　was　a
grove　of　heglik　not　far　distant；　and　the　troops　at　once　began　to　fell
these　trees；　and　to　form　fences　by　laying　the　prickly　branches　in　the
position　I　had　selected。

The　〃Forty　Thieves〃　were　all　provided　with　small　and　sharp　Canada　axes；
which　they　carried　under　the　strap　of　their　knapsacks；　thus　forty…eight
axes　were　at　work；　in　addition　to　the　heavier　instruments　belonging　to
the　expedition。

All　the　officers　and　men　shared　my　suspicions；　and　they　worked　with
great　alacrity。

It　was　just　dark　by　the　time　that　the　three　fences　were　completed；　and
the　herd　of　cattle　were　driven　and　secured　within　the　inclosure。

I　arranged　a　guard　of　sixty　men：　twenty　upon　each　side　of　the　triangle。
They　were　to　remain　outside　the　fence；　and　to　keep　a　vigilant　look…out。

This　work　being　over；　I　returned　at　night　to　the　diahbeeah　together　with
Lieutenant　Baker。　We　found　dinner　ready　on　the　poop…deck；　where　my　wife
had　been　rather　anxiously　expecting　us。　I　sent　for　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；
and　gave　him　the　necessary　orders　for　the　night。

My　diahbeeah　was　a　charming　vessel；　that　had　originally　been　sent　from
Cairo　to　Khartoum；　when　the　former　Viceroy　of　Egypt；　Said　Pacha；　visited
the　Soudan。

The　poop…deck　was　lofty　and　very　spacious。　This　comfortable　boat　had
been　my　home　for　two　years；　and　she　was　kept　in　admirable　order。

There　were　no　mosquitoes　during　this　season　in　Bedden's　country；
although　they　were　very　numerous　at　all　seasons　at　Gondokoro；　therefore；
being　relieved　from　these　pests；　the　enjoyment　of　the　evening　was
delightful。

The　night　was　calm；　as　usual　in　these　latitudes。　Dinner　was　concluded。　I
was　enjoying　my　evening　chibouque　with　the　best　Ghebbelli　tobacco；　that
soothes　many　anxieties。　The　troops　were　for　the　most　part　asleep；　and
all　was　quiet。　My　wife　was　sitting　on　the　sofa　or　divan；　and　Lieutenant
Baker　had　been　recalling　some　reminiscence　of　the　navy；　when　several
musket　shots　in　the　direction　of　the　cattle　kraal　suddenly　startled
every　soldier　from　his　sleep。

The　shots　were　almost　immediately　succeeded　by　heavy　firing　from　the
whole　force　stationed　at　the　cattle　zareeba。　The　bugles　sounded　the
alarm；　and　every　man　was　quickly　under　arms。

Having　arranged　the　men　in　position　to　defend　the　vessels　in　case　of　a
general　attack；　I　took　twenty　men　of　the　〃Forty　Thieves；〃　together　with
a　supply　of　rockets。　I　was　accompanied　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　most　of
the　Englishmen；　and　we　pushed　rapidly　forward　towards　the　cattle
zareeba；　where　the　flashes　of　muskets　were　distinctly　visible。

As　we　approached　the　position；　I　ordered　my　bugler　to　sound　〃cease
firing；〃　as　I　expected　to　receive　a　few　bullets　intended　for　the　enemy。

We　were　quickly　challenged　upon　arrival　at　the　zareeba。　We　found　the
cattle　all　safe；　only　a　few　sheep　had　been　killed　by　the　heavy　attempt
at　a　stampede　when　the　cows　took　fright　at　the　musketry。

I　was　informed　that　the　natives　in　considerable　force　had　made　a　sudden
rush　upon　the　zareeba；　and　had　thrown　showers　of　stones　in　order　to
create　a　panic　among　the　cattle；　which　they　expected　would　break　through
the　fence　and　scatter　over　the　country。

It　was　fortunate　that　I　had　taken　the　precaution　of　securing　them。

I　was　determined　to　clear　the　neighbourhood　before　the　attack　should　be
renewed。　The　night　was　dark。　I　was　provided　with　matches　and　port…fires；
and　I　quickly　made　an　excursion　and　sent　several　rockets　into　the
nearest　villages。　The　Hale's　rockets；　as　usual；　rushed　through　the
houses　without　igniting　them；　but　a　few　of　the　powerful　Egyptian　rockets
that　are　used　as　fireworks；　rapidly　lighted　up　the　scene；　as　the
descending　fire…balls　ignited　the　thatched　roofs。

These　rockets　were　fired　from　an　inclined　rest　of　a　soldier's　fixed
bayonet。

Having　cleared　the　neighbourhood；　I　returned　to　the　diahbeeah　at
midnight。

I　find　this　entry　in　my　journal：…

〃January　29；　1872。…All　the　googoos　or　granaries　abound　with　corn。　The
natives　are　so　rich；　both　in　dhurra　and　cattle；　that　they　will　not　work；
but　they　are　only　ready　to　sleep　or　steal。　After　all　my　kindness；　they
have　wantonly　attacked　my　cattle　without　the　plea　either　of　hunger　or
provocation。

〃What　can　be　accomplished　with　such　people？　I　shall　be　obliged　to　return
the　steamer　to　Ismailia　（Gondokoro）。　It　is　heartbreaking　work　after　all
my　trouble　in　having　brought　her　t