ismailia-第70部分

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son　of　sheik　Abbio；　of　Lobore；　would　have　absconded　with　all　his　people；
had　he　not　been　retained　by　the　troops。　This　man　was　responsible　for　the
natives　who　had　engaged　themselves　for　the　journey。

It　would　have　been　the　height　of　imprudence　to　have　permitted　the
immediate　departure　of　our　carriers　before　I　had　arranged　for　the
future；　thus　about　eighty　were　secured　by　the　soldiers；　including　the
sheik's　son；　from　a　general　stampede　that　took　place。

I　ordered　them　to　be　disarmed；　as　I　considered　that　if　unarmed；　they
would　not　venture　alone　through　the　Madi　country。

In　the　evening　they　were　secured　by　a　slight　line　tied　round　each　man's
neck；　and　connected　in　gangs　of　five。　A　guard　was　placed　over　them　in
addition　to　the　usual　sentries。

At　about　4　a。m。　a　signal　was　given　by　one　of　their　people。　Every　man　had
gnawed　through　his　cord　with　his　teeth　during　the　darkness；　and　at　the
concerted　cry　in　a　language　that　no　one　understood；　the　entire　party；　of
upwards　of　eighty　men；　knocked　down　the　astonished　guard；　also　the
sentries；　and　rushed　headlong　over　the　rocks　in　the　direction　of　Lobore。

It　was　a　natural　impulse　and　a　soldier's　duty　to　fire　in　the　direction
of　the　assailants；　as　the　overturned　sentries　quickly　recovered　and
joined　the　guard　in　a　volley。

I　was　up　in　an　instant；　and　upon　arrival　at　the　spot　I　was　informed　of
the　occurrence。　It　was　pitch　dark；　therefore　a　lantern　was　brought；　and
after　a　search；　three　bodies　were　discovered　of　the　rash　and　unfortunate
Lobore。　I　was　exceedingly　sorry　that　such　an　event　had　happened；　at　the
same　time　I　could　hardly　blame　the　sentries。　I　was　much　afraid　that　if
three　were　shot　dead；　others　must　have　escaped　wounded；　and　altogether
the　affair　would　have　a　bad　effect　at　Lobore。

The　sheik　of　Fatiko　was　named　Wat…el…Ajoos。　This　name　had　been　given　him
by　the　slave…hunters；　meaning　〃Son　of　the　old　man。〃　His　village　was　not
quite　half　a　mile　from　our　camp；　and　he　frequently　came　to　see　me　with
his　interpreter；　accompanied　by　his　wives。

Upon　his　first　visit　I　gave　him　a　long　blue　shirt；　together　with　some
yards　of　Turkey　red　cambric；　to　form　a　waist　sash；　also　a　red　fez　and
two　razors；　with　a　quantity　of　beads　for　his　wives。

Fatiko　is　merely　a　district　of　the　great　country　of　Shooli；　which　is
governed　by　the　sheik；　Rot　Jarma。　This　person　had　sent　word　that　he
intended　to　visit　me；　to　tender　his　allegiance　to　the　government。

On　16th　March；　a　wild　sound　of　many　horns　was　the　first　introduction；
and　shortly　after；　a　number　of　his　people　advanced　chanting　a　peculiar
low　song；　and　dancing　a　solemn　slow　step。　The　great　sheik　came　behind
them。　He　was　quickly　ushered　into　my　presence　beneath　a　shady　acacia；
close　to　my　tent　door。　He　was　perfectly　red　from　head　to　toes；　having
been　freshly　smeared　with　red　ochre　and　grease　for　the　interview。　A
well…dressed　skin　of　an　antelope　was　slung　across　his　shoulder；　and
descending　across　his　loins　it　constituted　his　scanty　clothing。

His　conversation　was　merely　a　repetition　of　the　old　story　being　a　series
of　complaints　against　the　slave…hunters。　He　declared　that　he　had　never
visited　Abou　Saood　or　any　of　his　people；　but　that　when　he　had　heard　of
my　arrival；　he　had　determined　at　once　to　offer　his　allegiance；　and　he
and　all　adjacent　countries　would　serve　the　government　faithfully；　in
return　for　protection　and　justice。

I　assured　him　that　he　had　nothing　to　fear　from　the　slave…hunters　in
future；　as　I　should　leave　Major　Abdullah　and　a　detachment　of　troops　to
represent　the　government　during　my　absence。　He　was　to　supply　them　with
corn；　and　to　yield　the　same　obedience　to　Major　Abdullah　as　he　would　to
me。　I　gave　him　nine　yards　of　red　cotton　cloth；　six　pounds　of　beads；　two
razors；　one　comb；　two　horn　snakes　in　boxes；　one　knife；　one　burning
glass；　one　zinc　mirror；　two　nickel　spoons；　three　rods　of　thick　brass
wire；　two　finger　rings；　two　pair　of　ear…rings；　two　red　and　yellow　cotton
handkerchiefs。

The　total　value　of　this　extensive　present　was　about　twenty…one
shillings。

Before　he　had　arrived；　he　had　requested　that　a　goat　might　be　sent　to　be
slaughtered　at　a　stream　before　he　should　cross　over；　otherwise　bad　luck
would　attend　his　visit。　Of　course　this　was　acceded　to；　and　the　goat　was
sacrificed　and　eaten　by　his　people。

I　gave　him；　according　to　my　usual　custom　with　all　sheiks　and　headmen；
seeds　of　the　best　Egyptian　cotton；　tomatoes；　pumpkins；　cucumbers；
water…melons；　sweet…melons；　barmian；　maize；　&c。；　&c。

Before　parting；　I　amused　and　shocked　him　with　the　magnetic　battery；　and
he　went　away　surprised　and　delighted。

I　subsequently　discovered　that　a　large　quantity　of　flour；　together　with
some　fowls　which　he　had　forwarded　to　me；　had　been　stopped　and
appropriated　by　the　renowned　Ali　Hussein。　The　intriguing　spirit　of　these
slave…hunters　was　extraordinary。　It　is　their　custom　never　to　receive　a
sheik　unless　he　brings　a　present。　He　therefore　considered　that　if　Rot
Jarma　should　appear　for　the　first　time　before　me　empty…handed；　I　should
either　not　admit　him；　or　perhaps　be　prejudiced　against　him；　thus　he　had
stolen　the　customary　gift　of　introduction　in　order　to　create　ill…will　on
my　part　towards　Rot　Jarma；　who　had　never　yet　condescended　to　visit　the
station　of　Abou　Saood　。　。　。　。　。

Wat…el…Ajoos；　with　the　assistance　of　Shooli　and　Gimoro；　had　collected
200　carriers；　all　of　whom　had　received　each　a　cow。

I　had　assorted　the　luggage；　and　although　I　had　not　the　slightest
suspicion　of　any　fighting；　nevertheless　my　ammunition　formed　a
considerable　portion　of　the　heavier　baggage。

Major　Abdullah　had　received　his　instructions；　and　a　site　had　been　chosen
for　his　station　within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　south　extremity　of　that　of
Abou　Saood。　This　position　was　backed　by　a　high　rock；　upon　which　I　had
already　commenced　to　build　a　powder　magazine　of　solid　masonry。

Abou　Saood　having　as　usual　sworn　upon　the　eyes　and　head　of　the　Prophet
to　do　all　that　was　right　and　virtuous；　and　the　natives　throughout　the
country　being　confident　of　protection；　I　prepared　for　the　journey　to
Unyoroa　distance　across　the　uninhabited　prairies　of　seventy…eight
miles　from　Fatiko；　due　south。

Our　excellent　and　trusty　friend　Shooli　was　to　be　our　guide。　Gimoro　was
prevented　from　accompanying　us　owing　to　a　wounded　foot。



CHAPTER　XVII。

THE　MARCH　TO　UNYORO。

On　18th　March；　1872；　we　were　all　in　order　for　the　march　to　the　south；
under　the　direction　of　our　guide；　Shooli。

Having　taken　leave　of　Major　Abdullah；　I　left　him　a　good　supply　of　sheep
and　cattle　for　his　detachment；　and　at　2　p。m。　we　started　for　the　prairie
march　to　Unyoro。

The　descent　from　the　table　land　of　Fatiko　was　rapid　for　the　first　seven
miles；　at　which　point　we　reached　a　stream　of　clear　running　water；　which
is　one　of　the　channels　of　the　Un…y…Ame　river。

The　limit　of　the　inhabited　country　is　about　three　miles　from　the　camp　at
Fatiko；　after　which　all　is　wilderness　to　Unyoro。

This　fertile　country　has　been　left　uninhabited；　on　account　of　the
disturbance　occasioned　by　the　diversity　of　tribes。　On　the　east　it　is
bounded　by　Umiro；　on　the　south　by　Unyoro；　and　on　the　west　by　Madi。　This
large　tract　of　land；　about　eighty　miles　from　north　to　south；　is
accordingly　the　resort　of　wild　animals；　and　it　forms　the　favourite
hunting…ground　of　the　various　tribes；　who　generally　come　into　conflict
with　each　other　during　their　excursions　in　pursuit　of　game。

We　halted　for　the　night　at　the　clear　stream　of　the　Un…y…Ame；　as　the
native　carriers　expected　their　wives　to　bring　them　provisions　for　the
journey。　It　was　only　five　o'clock；　therefore　I　strolled　along　the　banks
of　the　stream　accompanied　by　Shooli；　and　shortly　came　upon　game。

At　this　season　the　country　was　very　lovely；　as　the　young　grass　was
hardly　a　foot　high。　Stalking　was　extremely　difficult；　as　the　land　was
clear　of　trees；　and　the　long　sweeping　undulations　exposed　every　object
to　view　when　upon　the　face　of　the　inclines。　I　managed　at　length　to　get　a
tolerable　shot　at　one　of　the　beautiful　teel　antelopes　（Leucotis）；　by
creeping　up　the　broken　bed　of　a　water…course　until　I　arrived　at　a
white…ant　hill。　On　my　way　home　I　shot　a　gazelle；　thus　the　natives　all
had　flesh　from　the　two　animals　on　the　first　night　of　the　march。

The　wives　appeared　to　be　excellent　women；　as　they　arrived　in　great
numbers　with　a　quantity　of　hard　porridge　made　of　dhurra　flour；　which　was
to　form　the　commissariat　for　a　journey　of　nearly　160　miles　to　Unyoro　and
back。

If　a　native　travels　through　wilderness；　he　will　always　make　forced
marches；　thus　the　Fatikos　would　only　sleep　one　night　upon　the　road　of
seventy…eight　miles　when　on　the　return　journey。

On　the　following　morning；　we　were　rather　late　in　starting；　as　more　women
arrived　with　food；　and　certain　farewells　took　place。　The　Fatiko　natives
appeared　to　be　very　superior　to　the　Lobore；　as　not　one　man　absconded。　In
fact；　one　native　who　had　a　swollen　leg　which　prevented　him　from　walking；
actually　sent　back　his　cow　with　an　explanation　of　the　cause　of　absence。

On　19th　March　we　started　at　6。50　a。m。；　all　our　carriers　being　well
provided　with　food。　The　country　was　as　usual　a　well…watered　undulating
prairie；　abounding　in　game。　At　this　season　the　journey　was　very
delightful；　but　when　the　grass　is　about　nine　feet　high　it　is　simply
detestable　travelling。

On　the　march；　we；　as　usual；　led　the　way。　Lieutenant　Baker　dismounted　for
a　shot　at　a　splendid　buck　（Leucotis）；　which　he　wounded　somewhere　behind；
and　the　animal　made　off　in　evident　discomfort。　This　was　a　signal　for　the
natives；　who　immediately　put　down　their　loads　and　started　off　in
pursuit；　like　a　pack　of　hounds。

Although　the　animal　was　badly　hit；　the　pace　was　very　great；　and　it　went
along　the　face　of　the　opposite　undulation　followed　by　the　extraordinary
runners；　who；　with　their　long　springing　strides；　kept　up　a　speed　for
about　three…quarters　of　a　mile　that　at　length　brought　the　leading　native
sufficiently　near　for　throwing　his　lance。　The　next　moment　a　crowd　of
hungry　fellows　fell　upon　the　welcome　name　like　starving　wolves。

After　a　march　of　twelve　miles　we　arrived　at　a　rocky　stream　of　clear
water；　which　is　another　channel　of　the　Un…y…Ame　river；　that　carries　off
the　main　drainage　of　this　country。