ismailia-第138章
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〃Go； my good women；〃 I exclaimed； 〃and when you arrive at your homes；
explain to your people that you were captured entirely against my will；
and that I am only happy to have released you。〃
For a few moments they looked around them； as hardly believing the good
news。 In another instant； as the truth flashed across their delighted
minds； they rushed upon me in a body； and before I had time for
self…defence； I found myself in the arms of a naked beauty who kissed me
almost to suffocation； and with a most unpleasant embrace licked both my
eyes with her tongue。 The sentries came to my assistance； together with
the servants； who withstood the grateful crowd； otherwise both my wife
and myself would have been subjected to this painful thanksgiving from
the liberated Bari women。
Their freedom having been explained； we gave each a present of beads as
a reward for the trouble they had undergone； and they went away
rejoicing； upon the road to their own homes。
We arrived at Gondokoro on 1st April； 1873； without the slightest
disturbance during the march。 This was the exact day upon which my term
of service would have expired； according to my original agreement with
the Khedive。
I halted the troops about half a mile from Gondokoro； to allow them to
change their clothes； when I observed with the telescope some of the
Englishmen approaching。 Several of my welcome countrymen at length
arrived。
〃Where is Mr。 Higginbotham？〃 I asked； as I was eager to see my chief
engineer and friend。
There was a slight pause before the reply〃HE DIED ON THE LAST DAY OF
FEBRUARY！〃
I was quite overpowered with the dreadful news！ Poor Higginbotham！ who
had been my right hand throughout the early portion of the expedition！
He was a man who so thoroughly represented the character that we love to
think is truly English； combining all energy； courage； and perseverance。
He was gone！
We marched into Gondokoro。 Fourteen months had made a change for the
worse。 I had left the station with a neat ditch and earthwork； the
environs had been clean。 It was now a mass of filth。 Bones and remnants
of old clothes； that would have been a fortune to a rag…and…bone shop；
lay scattered in all directions。 The ditch was filled up with sand； and
the fallen bank washed in by the heavy rains； as it had never been
cleansed during my absence。
The guns fired a salute； Raouf Bey and the troops appeared in good
health； and I was shown into poor Higginbotham's house on the cliff
above the river。
A beautiful new steamer of 108 tons； built of steel； with twin screws；
was floating on the stream。 This was the work of my Englishmen； who had
taken a pride in turning out the best results that Messrs。 Samuda
Brothers and Messrs。 Penn & Co。 could produce。
I went on board to inspect the new vessel directly after breakfast。 She
had been admirably constructed； and being devoid of paddles； she would
be able to glide through the narrow channels of the Bahr Giraffe like a
fish。
Although the station was dirty and neglected； I must do Raouf Bey
justice in acknowledging that he had paid much attention to the gardens
on the islands； which were producing so abundantly that the troops
received rations of vegetables daily。
Raouf Bey had also shown determination； and had accepted great
responsibility in shooting a soldier for desertion during my absence。
It appeared that the reinforcements lately received from Khartoum were
merely slaves that had been sold to the government； and had rapidly been
trained for soldiers。 Many of these people had originally come from the
White Nile； therefore they were disposed to desert upon the first
opportunity。
A considerable number had deserted； with their arms and ammunition。 They
had also stolen Raouf Bey's guns and rifles from his house； and had
absconded to Belinian。 Raouf Bey had called upon the Belinian to give up
the deserters； but the Belinian natives had only replied to the
summonses by making nightly demonstrations of attack against the station
of Gondokoro； which had rendered sound sleep impossible for the last
month。 Raouf Bey had accordingly invaded Belinian； and had fought a
pitched battle； in which the deserters who had joined the Baris fired
upon the troops。 Two of them were killed。 （On this occasion； the Baris
being well supplied with muskets and ammunition； the troops of Raouf Bey
suffered considerable loss。）
I immediately sent for Allorron； who had now become a faithful sheik of
the government。 He confessed all his sins； and of course laid the whole
blame upon Abou Saood； who he declared had deceived him； and instigated
him against the government。 I did not wish for any explanations upon the
truth of which I could not rely。 I therefore ordered him to go at once
to Belinian； and inform the natives that； unless they gave up the
deserters； I should pay them a visit with the 〃red shirts；〃 who had now
returned with me from Fatiko。 At the same time I promised him three cows
if he succeeded。
In a few days he returned with two deserters。 These men were tried by
court…martial； and having been found guilty； they were shot in the
presence of the regiment。
Order and discipline were at once restored among the troops。
Now that I had returned with the 〃Forty Thieves；〃 the natives of
Belinian no longer visited the camp at night； but the country shortly
became quiet and peaceful。
Wat…el…Mek； who had accompanied me from Fatiko； returned with
reinforcements and a herd of cattle to his district。 I parted with
regret with my good men Shooli and Gimoro； to whom I gave some useful
presents。
On 10th April I commenced a new fort with ditch and earthwork around the
magazines； but the sandy nature of the soil will cause much trouble
during the heavy rains。
I ordered Mr。 Marcopolo to take stock； together with an Egyptian officer
（Foad Effendi）； of everything that remained within the magazine； and to
take a receipt for his stores。 This task occupied nearly a month。
The Englishmen had carefully packed everything that belonged to the No。
3 steamer and machinery； and had stowed her in a magazine that was given
in charge of an officer； who gave a receipt for the contents。
Everything was ready by the 25th May for our return homewards。 I erected
a monument of red brick coated with pitch over my poor friend
Higginbotham's grave； within my garden； near the spot where the
missionaries were formerly buried。
We started on the 26th； having taken a farewell of my gallant 〃Forty
Thieves；〃 many of whom showed much emotion at parting。 As I walked down
the line of troops when I took official leave； my old soldiers broke the
bounds of discipline by shouting： 〃May God give you a long life！ and may
you meet your family in good health at home！〃
I felt a choking sensation in saying good…bye； but we were soon on
board； and the steam was up。
The new steamer； the Khedive； took us in tow； and we travelled rapidly
down the stream towards home in old England。
Although I had written the most important letters to the Khedive and to
his minister in October 1871； I had； to my amazement； NOT RECEIVED ONE
WORD IN REPLY by the post that had arrived from Egypt。 I had apparently
been looked upon as a dead man that did not require a letter。 It
appeared that my existence was utterly ignored by the Egyptian
government； although I had received my letters in due course from
England。
On arrival at the Bahr Giraffe； we found that the canals which I had
formerly cut were much improved by the force of the stream。 Although
these passages were narrow； they had become deep； and we progressed with
comparatively little trouble。
On 7th June； three sails were reported ahead on the horizon。 We pushed
forward with some curiosity； but unfortunately a sudd of vegetable rafts
had closed the passage for a short distance； which required about an
hour to clean； this delayed the chase。
That evening； as we had stopped for the night at a spot known as the
〃Three Dubbas；〃 we heard a woman's voice from the high grass addressing
us in an imploring tone。 I immediately sent a boat to make inquiries； as
one of our native girls understood the language。
It appeared that the woma
