ismailia-第60部分

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would　be　confined　below　the　level　of　the　country。

Sixty　men　were　to　guard　the　cattle　at　night；　thirty　upon　either　bank。　As
this　ravine　ran　at　right　angles　with　the　river；　the　sixty　men　would
enfilade　an　enemy　attacking　the　vessels；　and　the　guard　of　the　vessels
would　at　the　same　time　enfilade　an　enemy　should　he　attack　the　cattle　on
the　north　side。

I　placed　the　gun　in　a　convenient　position　about　twenty　yards　from　the
margin　of　the　river；　on　a　piece　of　hard；　flat　ground；　exactly　opposite
the　centre　of　the　line　of　vessels。　This　would　sweep　the　approach　in
front　and　upon　the　left　flank。

I　ordered　the　officer　to　load　with　canister　containing　250　small　musket
balls。　Having　served　out　a　dozen　Woolwich　tubes；　instead　of　the
uncertain　Egyptian　articles；　I　gave　positive　orders　that　the　gun　was　to
be　laid　for　a　point…blank　range　of　200　yards　every　evening　at　sunset；
with　the　tube　in　its　place；　the　lanyard　attached　and　coiled。　A　piece　of
raw　hide　was　to　cover　the　breech　of　the　gun　to　protect　it　from　the　night
dew。

Having　given　every　instruction；　and　impressed　upon　officers　and　men　the
necessity　of　vigilance；　I　ordered　Major　Abdullah；　in　command；　to　remain
in　charge　of　the　vessels　and　cattle　until　I　should　either　send　him
carriers　for　an　advance；　or　fall　back　myself；　should　I　be　unable　to
obtain　them。

A　tall　old　man　of　about　seventy；　or　perhaps　eighty　years；　had　paid　us　a
visit。　From　his　appearance；　and　the　numerous　spells　hung　about　his
person；　I　judged　him　to　be　a　rain…maker。　His　face　was　smeared　with　wood
ashes；　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　the　ideal　demon　in　his　personal
exterior。

I　gave　him　a　blue　shirt；　and　a　glass　of　Marsala　wine；　thus　appealing　at
once　to　his　exterior　and　interior。

It　is　always　advisable　to　make　friends　with　the　rain…makers；　as　they　are
regarded　by　the　natives　as　priests；　and　are　considered　with　a　certain
respect。　I　therefore　give　him　another　glass　of　wine；　or；　to　be　correct；
he　drank　it　from　a　tin　that　had　contained　preserved　provisions。

This　caused　him　to　blink　his　eyes　and　smack　his　lips；　and　the　old
rain…maker　grinned　a　ghastly　smile　of　admiration。　His　wood　ash…smeared
features　relaxed　into　an　expression　that　denoted　〃more　wine。〃　I　thought
he　had　enough；　and　there　was　none　to　spare；　therefore；　having　opened　his
heart；　I　began　to　ask　him　questions。

That　unfailing　key；　liquor；　had　established　a　confidential　flow　of
conversation。　The　old　fellow　explained　that　he　knew　the　entire　country；
and　he　had　no　objection　to　accompany　us　to　Lobore　for　a　small
consideration　in　the　shape　of　a　cow。　He　assured　me　that　if　he　were　with
us；　the　natives　would　be　civil　throughout　the　journey。　Bedden　had
behaved　very　badly；　but　he　had　got　the　worst　of　it；　and　the　news　had
spread　up　the　country。

I　asked　him　whether　he　would　keep　the　rain　away　during　the　journey；　as
it　would　be　very　unpleasant　should　the　soldiers'　kits　get　wet。　He
immediately　blew　his　rain…whistle　that　was　suspended　to　his　neck；　and
looked　at　me　as　though　I　could　no　longer　doubt　his　capability。　I　then
sent　for　a　German　horn　from　my　cabin。　This　was　a　polished　cow's　horn；
fitted　with　brass；　which　I　think　had　cost　a　shilling。　I　begged　the　old
rain…maker's　acceptance　of　this　instrument；　which　might　be　perhaps
superior　to　his　whistle。

The　wine　had　now　so　far　warmed　his　old　blood；　that　the　ancient　sorcerer
was　just　in　that　state　of　good…will　with　all　mankind　which　made　him
doubly　grateful　for　so　interesting　a　present。　He　blew　the　horn！again；
and　again！　He　grinned　till　the　tears　ran　down　his　eyes；　and　at　once
suspended　the　glittering　toy　around　his　neck。　He　now　said；　〃I　am　a　great
sheik；　there　is　no　rain…maker　so　great　as　I；　you　will　travel　with　me；
and　this　horn　shall　keep　you　dry。　Don't　trouble　yourself　about　the
Baris；　they　won't　molest　you；　but　start　as　soon　as　you　can。〃

We　had　thus　gained　a　valuable　ally　and　guide。　Although　I　knew　the
direction　of　Lobore；　I　should　have　been　obliged　to　travel　by　compass；
therefore　I　was　overjoyed　that　we　had　obtained　so　experienced　an　old
fellow　as　the　rain…maker。　His　name　was　Lokko。

At　3　p。m。；　on　8th　February；　we　started；　old　Lokko　leading　the　way；　and
waving　a　couple　of　thin；　peeled　sticks　at　a　refractory　black　cloud　that
appeared　determined　to　defy　his　rain…ruling　powers。　A　few　loud　blasts
upon　the　new　horn；　and　a　good　deal　of　pantomime　and　gesticulation　on　the
part　of　old　Lokko；　at　length　had　the　desired　effect；　the　cloud　went　off
about　its　business；　and　Lokko；　having　given　his　face　an　extra　rub　of
fresh　wood…ashes　before　starting；　looked　ugly　enough　to　frighten　any
rain…devil　out　of　his　wits。

My　people　were　heavily　laden。　At　the　commencement　of　the　journey；　an　ox
that　Monsoor　had　been　training；　kicked　off　its　load；　and　went　off　at
full　gallop　like　a　wild　animal；　and　we　never　saw　it　again。　Poor　Monsoor
now　shouldered　the　load　that　the　ox　had　left　helpless；　and　marched　thus
heavily　laden　up　the　hill。

My　wife　rode　〃Greedy　Grey；〃　which　carried　as　much　as　could　be　hung　upon
the　saddle。　I　rode　the　powerful　chestnut　〃Jamoos。〃　Lieutenant　Baker
mounted　a　very　handsome　light　chestnut　〃Gazelle；〃　and　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　rode　the　Zafteer。　The　latter　was　a　fine　old　Arab　that　I　had
purchased　of　a　zafteer　（mounted　police）　in　Cairo。　I　had　ten　donkeys
which　carried　officers'　effects；　spare　ammunition；　flour；　&c。　The
twenty…two　boatmen　carried　boxes。

My　wife　and　I；　with　Lieutenant　Baker　and　an　advanced　guard　of　five　of
〃The　Forty；〃　followed　old　Lokko；　who　led　the　way；　and　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　and　Captain　Mohammed　Deii　were　with　the　rear…guard；　which
drove　1；000　cows　and　500　sheep。　The　cattle　were　in　the　charge　of　the
Bari　interpreter；　Morgian。

Our　boys　and　girls　all　carried　loads。　Amarn　looked　like　a　small　Robinson
Crusoe；　with　a　tanned　sheepskin　bag　of　clothes　upon　his　back；　upon　which
was　slung　the　coffee…pot；　an　umbrella；　and　various　smaller　articles；
while　he　assisted　himself　with　a　long　staff　in　his　hand。　Little　Cuckoo；
who；　although　hardly　seven　years　old；　was　as　strong　as　a　little　pony；
strode　along　behind　my　horse；　carrying　upon　his　head　my　small　travelling
bag。

Everybody　was　in　the　best　spirits；　as　the　reaction　from　despair
to　success　was　delightful。　We　were　really　off　at　last；　and　were　actually
on　the　march　to　the　interior。

That　evening　we　halted　at　a　village　on　the　heights；　only　three　miles
from　the　vessels。　The　natives　had　deserted　their　habitations　on　our
approach；　and　would　not　come　near　us。　I　ordered　the　troops　to　save　their
flour；　and　to　eat　from　that　discovered　in　the　village；　for　which　on　the
following　morning　I　left　two　cows　as　a　present。　They　were　tied　up　in　the
native　zareeba。　The　cows　were　worth　at　least　fifty　times　the　flour　we
had　consumed；　but　I　wished　to　adopt　this　plan　throughout　the　journey　to
Lobore；　in　order　to　establish　confidence；　and　to　open　up　the　road　for
the　future。

On　9th　February　we　started　at　5。35　a。m。；　and　marched　two　hours　and　a
half　through　a　very　beautiful　undulating　country；　diversified　with
rocks；　streams；　and　handsome　park…like　timber。

We　halted　at　a　village　called　Koojok；　beneath　a　large　fig…tree　（Ficus
Indica）。　Our　old　friend　Lokko　appeared　to　be　perfectly　well　known；　and
he　at　once　introduced　us　to　the　natives；　who　received　us　without　fear　or
suspicion。　At　this　village　I　was　able　to　hire　five　natives　for　as　many
cows；　to　ease　my　people　（especially　Monsoor）　of　their　loads。

Thus　relieved；　we　started　at　2　p。m。；　and　halted　for　the　night　at　a
village　named　Gobbohr。　The　day's　march　was　twelve　miles。　North　latitude；
by　observation；　4　degrees　28　minutes。

At　this　spot　the　natives　brought　us　a　great　curiosity；　which　they　had
purchased　from　the　Baris　of　Belinian。　This　was　no　less　than　a　shell　of　8
1/4　lbs。　that　had　been　fired　at　the　Baris　by　our　cannon；　but　the　fuze
had　not　ignited。　It　had　been　sold　to　the　natives　of　Gobbohr　as　a　piece
of　iron。

I　inquired　the　use　of　such　a　lump　of　metal　to　them。　〃Oh！〃　they　replied；
〃we　are　going　to　hammer　it　into　molotes　（hoes）。〃

I　explained　to　them　that　it　was　a　loaded　shell；　that　would　explode　and
blow　the　blacksmith　and　his　people　to　pieces；　if　he　were　to　place　it　on
the　fire。　They　went　away　with　their　shell；　evidently　doubting　my
explanation。

On　the　10th　February；　having　as　usual　presented　the　natives　with　two
cows；　we　started　at　6　a。m。；　and　marched　ten　miles。　The　country　was　even
more　lovely　than　before；　comprising　fine　rocky　scenery　and　beautiful
park…like　views。　The　undulations　terminated　in　stony　bottoms　or
water…courses；　the　rocks　were　all　syenite；　gneiss；　and　large　masses　of
snow…white　quartz。

Although　at　this　season　the　ground　was　parched；　the　trees　were　all
vividly　green：　the　contrast　of　this　bright　green　with　the　yellow　turf
was　very　remarkable。

At　2。50　p。m。　we　again　started；　and　marched　three　miles；　arriving　at　a
village　on　high　ground　called　Marengo；　in　N。　lat。　4　degrees　18　minutes。
Here　I　met　an　old　acquaintance；　who；　of　course；　asked　me　for　a　cow。　This
was　a　very　respectable　man；　named　Nersho；　who　had；　when　a　boy；　been
brought　up　by　the　Austrian　missionaries　at　Gondokoro。　I　had　met　him
during　my　former　journey　when　in　company　with　Koorshood's　vakeel；
Ibrahim。　We　slept　at　Marengo。　The　soldiers　borrowed　the　natives'　mats；
cooking　pots；　&c。；　but　scrupulously　returned　everything　according　to
orders。

February　11。　Nersho　received　his　cow；　and　I　left　two　in　addition　for
the　headman　of　the　village。

We　started　at　5。35　a。m。；　and　marched　ten　miles；　and　halted　at　a　small
ravine　of　running　water　among　wooded　hills。

Our　old　guide；　Lokko；　was　at　fault。　After　much　trouble　we　succeeded　in
obtaining　two　natives；　who　told　us；　that　in　this　spot　they　had　killed　a
large　number　of　the　slave…hunters'　people。

Other　natives　soon　joined　us；　and　we　were　led　by　a　difficult　rocky　path
through　thick　forest　among　the　hills　for　five　miles；　to　the　pretty　open
country　of　Mooge。

Throughout　the　journey　from　the　Nile；　the　country　had　been　thickly
populated。　At　Mooge　we　camped　in　a　large　village　on　the　hill。

February　12。　We　started　at　5。25；　and　marched　straight　to　Lobore；　a
distance　of　fourteen　miles。　The　road　was　through　forest；　intersected　at
right…angles　with　deep　watercourses　from　the　mount