ismailia-第125章
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supposed to be dead； it would be impossible。
This man； Wat…el…Mek； had nevertheless behaved well； as he had
immediately demanded 100 men from Abou Saood； and fifty men from
Abdullah； in order to march to Unyoro； join Rionga； and with a native
army he would have searched for us throughout the country。
Abou Saood had refused to give the 100 men； therefore we had been left
to our fate。
The result of the story was that I must hurry on to Fatiko； Rot Jarma
had sent his messengers to discover me whether dead or alive； and should
I not march quickly； Abdullah might be attacked and overpowered； and the
slave…hunters would possess themselves of all the ammunition and stores。
。 。 。 This was not very refreshing news； after all the troubles we had
gone through。
Had I received this important intelligence during my stay with Rionga； I
should not have left Colonel Abd…el…Kader with sixty men behind me。 It
would not do to waste time by halting： and should I send to recall
Abd…el…Kader immediately after my departure； the effect upon Rionga
would create suspicion。 The withdrawal of the troops would destroy all
confidence on the part of his native allies。
I gave the order to march forward at once。
My horse； Jamoos； now the only survivor of all those that I brought from
Cairo； was in good condition； but he suffered from a woeful sore back；
occasioned by the heavy load that he had carried from Masindi。 My wife
was therefore obliged to walk； as the mud was too deep for the solitary
donkey； who was weak and ill。
For more than a mile and a half we had to wade through flooded marshes
nearly hip deep； the heavy rains had made the country boggy and
unpleasant。
We had one sheep for the journey of seventy…nine miles； but this was
missing upon the second day's march； and we subsequently discovered that
it had been stolen and eaten by our guide and the carriers supplied by
Rionga。 We were thus reduced to dried fish in the place of our lost
mutton； for which we felt inclined to go into mourning。
Although we had been badly fed of late； and for twenty…three days had
been without solid animal food （since the march from Masindi）； we were
nevertheless in excellent health； and always hungry。
We marched well through the uninhabited wilderness of forest； high
grass； and swamps； and arrived at the village of Sharga； ten miles from
Fatiko； on August 1st； 1872。
The people had collected in considerable numbers to receive us； and we
were presented with a fat ox for the troops； thirteen large jars of
merissa； and a very plump sheep for ourselves。
The soldiers were delighted； poor fellows； and we likewise looked
forward with no small pleasure to a good stew。
Numerous sheiks had collected to receive us； and a formal complaint and
protest was made against Abou Saood and his people。
An attack had been planned by the slavers； and Abdullah and his small
detachment of 100 men would be overpowered。 They were already
disheartened； as they believed that we were dead； and they had been
daily taunted with this fact by the brigands； who asked them； 〃what they
were going to do now that the Pacha was killed。〃
Abou Saood； having given his orders to Wat…el…Mek； and to the ruffian
Ali Hussein； had withdrawn to the station of Fabbo； twenty…two miles
west of Fatiko； to which place he had carried all the ivory。 He was not
fond of fighting； PERSONALLY。
The natives corroborated the information I had received from Rot Jarma's
messengers。 They declared that not only had women and children been
carried off； but that the slave…hunters under Ali Hussein had cut the
throats of many of their women before their eyes； and had dashed the
brains of the young children upon the rocks in derision of my power；
saying； 〃Now see if the Nuzzerani （Christian） can protect you！〃
They declared that Wat…el…Mek really wished to join the government； but
that when he got drunk； both Abou Saood and others could induce him to
behave badly。
There were several hundred people present at this meeting； and the
sheiks wound up in a cool and temperate manner； by advising me 〃not to
judge from what they had told me； but simply to march early on the
following morning to Fatiko； and to receive the report direct from my
own commandant； Major Abdullah。
〃If he contradicts us； you may say that we are liars； then never believe
us again。〃
This was the conclusion of the palaver。
The morning of 2nd August arrived； and we started at 6。20 A。M。； and
marched fast over a beautiful country of dells； woods； and open
park…like lands； until we ascended the hill that rose towards the high
plateau at Fatiko。
As we passed the numerous villages we were joined by curious bands of
natives； who by degrees swelled our party to nearly a thousand persons。
There was no doubt that these people expected to witness a row； as they
knew that Abdullah had been threatened。 It was therefore highly probable
that we might be attacked； as the slave…hunters would imagine that my
small force of forty men was the last remnant of my detachment。
No one at Fatiko had an idea of my existence： thus we should arrive as
though risen from the dead。
I halted the men on a large flat rock about a mile and a half south of
Fatiko。 Here they changed their clothes； and dressed in their best
scarlet uniforms and white linen trousers。
We again marched forward； until； upon gaining the racecourselike
plateau； we perceived the station in the distance。
The bugles now sounded the 〃assembly〃； to apprise Major Abdullah of our
approach。 We then marched； while the natives； who delight in music；
struck up an accompaniment on their whistles。 My wife was riding the
horse； as his back was nearly recovered。
With the telescope； I now perceived a great stir in Major Abdullah's
camp。 The men were running to and fro； presently red clots appeared；
these rapidly increased； until a thin line of scarlet showed me that his
troops were drawn up outside the camp to receive us。
We arrived at 9。30 A。M。 The first formalities having been gone through；
the troops embraced their friends； and I shook Major Abdullah warmly by
the hand； and asked him for immediate news。 He merely replied： 〃Thank
God； sir； you are safe and arrived here； all will go well now that you
are alive again。 I have kept a journal； and when you have rested； I will
hand you my report in writing。〃
My old dragoman； Mohammed； had burst out crying with joy at our arrival；
and he assured me that it was most fortunate that I had appeared； as
affairs had become worse than ever。
The natives that had accompanied us had ascended the large flat rock
which commanded the station （and which now forms the citadel）； upon
which they had squatted down like a flock of cormorants； to observe all
that passed。
No one had come to salute me from Abou Saood's station； which was almost
a portion of that belonging to the government； as it was only separated
by a level turf ninety yards across。
The absence of the vakeel and his people was a studied insult； as it was
his duty to have at once appeared； with his men in line to receive us。
A hut having been swept out； I entered to change my dress； as I wished
to inspect the troops。 I never wore a uniform in this country； except
upon state occasions； but a simple Norfolk shirt of thick white cotton；
and trousers of the same material。 This； with an Egyptian silk coffeeah
arranged over my own old helmet hat was sufficient for Central Africa。
I ordered Major Abdullah to form the troops in line； as I wished to
inspect them。
At the sound of the bugle； they formed two deep on the beautiful turf
outside the slight fence which surrounded the camp。 My horse； having
been rubbed down and quickly saddled； was led through the narrow wicket；
having mounted； I rode down the line and made a short inspection of the
troops； who appeared to be in excellent health。
I was just returning to the camp； and was about to dismount； as I could
not ride through the extremely narrow wicket； when I was begged by Major
Abdullah to wait a little longer； as the people of Wat…el…Mek were now
approaching with their numerous flags； to salute me according to the
usual custom。
