ismailia-第20章

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last　ostrich　that　I　have　ever　bagged。　It　was　a　very　fine　male；　and　the
two　thighs　and　legs　were　a　very　fair　load　for　a　strong　donkey。

I　have　seen　erroneous　accounts　of　ostriches　designated　as　two　varieties；
the　black　and　the　grey。　The　black；　with　white　feathers　in　the　wings　and
tail；　is　simply　the　male；　and　the　grey　the　female。　The　feathers　of　this
bird　were　old　and　in　bad　order。　The　fat　is　much　esteemed　by　the　Arabs　as
an　external　application　for　rheumatism。　I　found　the　stomach　rich　in
scorpions；　beetles；　leaves　of　trees；　and　white　rounded　quartz　pebbles。
The　bird　must　have　come　from　a　considerable　distance　as　there　was
neither　rock　nor　pebble　in　the　neighbourhood。

On　my　return　to　camp　I　carved　an　artificial　ostrich　head　from　a　piece　of
wood；　and　made　false　eyes　with　the　neck　of　a　wine　bottle。　I　intended　to
stick　this　head　upon　a　pole；　concealed　in　a　linen　fishing　rod　case；　and
to　dress　up　my　cap　with　thick　plumes　of　ostrich　feathers。　I　have　no
doubt　that　it　would　be　possible　to　approach　ostriches　in　grass　by　this
imitation；　as　the　pole　would　be　carried　in　the　left　hand；　and　all　the
movements　of　the　ostriches　might　be　easily　imitated。　The　pole　in　the
left　hand　rested　on　the　ground　would　make　a　good　rest　for　the　rifle　when
the　moment　arrived　for　the　shot。

Heavy　rains　set　in；　and　the　hitherto　dry　plains　became　flooded　and
swampy；　thus　I　never　had　an　opportunity　to　try　my　false　ostrich。

The　Shillooks　were　now　become　our　fast　friends。　The　camp　was　crowded
daily　with　natives　who　came　by　water　from　a　considerable　distance　to
traffic　with　the　soldiers。　Like　all　negroes；　they　were　sharp　traders；
with　a　Jewish　tendency　in　their　bargains。　They　brought　raw　cotton　and
provisions　of　all　kinds　in　exchange　for　cotton　manufactures　and　iron。
Their　country　consists　simply　of　rich　alluvial　soil；　therefore　all　iron
must　be　imported；　and　it　is　of　great　value。　The　best　articles　of
exchange　for　this　country　would　be　pieces　of　wrought　iron　of　about　four
ounces　in　weight　and　six　inches　long；　and　pieces　of　eight　ounces；　and
eight　inches　in　length。　Also　cotton　cloth；　known　as　grey　calico；
together　with　white　calico；　and　other　cheap　manufactures。　The　cotton
that　is　indigenous　to　the　country　is　short　in　staple；　but　it　grows
perfectly　wild。　The　Shillooks　are　very　industrious；　and　cultivate　large
quantities　of　dhurra　and　some　maize；　but　the　latter　is　only　used　to　eat
in　a　green　state；　roasted　on　the　ashes。　The　grain　of　maize　is　too　hard
to　grind　on　the　common　flat　millstones　of　the　natives；　thus　it　is　seldom
cultivated　in　any　portion　of　Central　Africa　on　an　extended　scale。　I　gave
some　good　Egyptian　cotton…seed　to　the　natives；　also　the　seed　of　various
European　vegetables。　Tobacco　was　in　great　demand　by　the　troops；　and　I
considered　the　quality　supplied　by　the　Shillooks　superior　to　that
cultivated　in　the　Soudan。

Although　the　camp　was　visited　by　hundreds　of　natives；　including　their
women；　daily；　there　were　seldom　any　quarrels　over　the　marketing；　and
when　a　disagreement　took　place　it　was　generally　the　fault　of　a　soldier；
who　took　something　on　credit；　and　pleaded　inability　to　pay。　I
administered　a　rough…and…ready　justice；　and　appointed　an　officer　to
superintend　the　bazaar　to　prevent　squabbles。

I　was　much　struck　with　the　honesty　of　the　natives；　who　appeared
thoroughly　to　appreciate　the　protection　afforded　them；　and　the　fair
dealing　insisted　upon　on　the　part　of　the　troops。　The　river　was　about　700
yards　wide；　but　the　land　on　the　west　shore　was　only　a　large　island；
through　which　several　small　streams　cut　deep　channels。　This　island　was
separated　from　the　main　western　shore　by　a　branch　of　the　White　Nile。　The
west　bank　was　thickly　lined　with　villages　for　about　200　miles　of　river
frontage　throughout　the　Shillook　country；　thus　affording　admirable
opportunities　for　direct　trade　with　vessels　from　Khartoum。　It　was　a
tedious　journey　for　the　natives　to　visit　us　daily；　as　they　had　to　cross
first　their　western　branch　of　the　Nile；　then　to　carry　their　canoes
across　the　island　for　about　a　mile；　and　again　to　cross　the　main　river　to
arrive　at　our　camp。　The　Shillook　canoe　has　often　been　described。　It　is
formed　of　long　pieces　of　the　ambatch…wood；　which　is　lighter　than　cork。
These　curious　trees；　which　grow　in　the　swamps　of　the　White　Nile；　are
thick　at　the　base；　and　taper　to　a　point；　thus　a　number　are　lashed
securely　together；　and　the　points　are　tied　tightly　with　cord；　so　as　to
form　a　bow。　These　canoes　or　rafts　generally　convey　two　persons；　and　they
are　especially　adapted　for　the　marshy　navigation　of　the　river；　as　they
can　be　carried　on　the　head　without　difficulty；　when　it　may　be　necessary
to　cross　an　island　or　morass。

Our　native　traders　arrived　daily　in　fleets　of　ambatch　canoes　from　a
considerable　distance。　The　soldiers　trusted　them　with　their　rations　of
corn　to　grind；　rather　than　take　the　trouble　to　prepare　it　themselves。
The　natives　took　the　corn　to　their　homes；　and　invariably　returned　with
the　honest　complement　of　flour。　I　never　had　a　complaint　brought　before
me　of　dishonesty　when　a　Shillook　had　been　trusted。　I　have　great　hopes　of
these　people；　they　simply　require　all　assurance　of　good　faith　and
protection　to　become　a　valuable　race。

From　the　Shillook　country　to　Khartoum　the　river　is　superb　and　can　be
navigated　at　all　seasons。　The　northern　end　of　this　country　is　rich　in
forests　of　the　Acacia　Arabica　（Soont）；　a　wood　that　is　invaluable　as　fuel
for　steamers；　and　is　the　only　really　durable　wood　for　ship…building　in
the　Soudan。　The　rains　begin　in　May；　and　are　regular　throughout　four
months；　thus　cotton　may　be　cultivated　without　the　expense　of　artificial
irrigation；　at　the　same　time　the　dry　summer　offers　an　inestimable
advantage　for　gathering　the　crop。

The　Dinka　country　on　the　east　bank　would　have　been　of　equal　value；　but；
as　I　have　already　described；　it　has　been　depopulated。

There　was　an　old　blind　sheik　who　frequently　visited　us　from　the　other
side；　and　this　poor　old　fellow　came　to　an　untimely　end　when　returning
one　day　with　his　son　from　marketing　at　Tewfikeeyah。　I　was　walking　on　the
quay；　when　I　heard　a　great　commotion；　and　I　saw　a　splashing　in　the
river；　the　surface　of　which　was　covered　with　the　ambatch　fragments　of　a
native　canoe。　There　were　many　canoes　on　the　river；　several　of　which
immediately　went　to　the　assistance　of　two　men　who　were　struggling　in　the
water。　A　hippopotamus　had　wantonly　charged　the　canoe；　and　seizing　it　in
his　mouth；　together　with　the　poor　old　blind　sheik　who　could　not　avoid
the　danger；　crunched　the　frail　boat　to　pieces；　and　so　crushed　and
lacerated　the　old　man　that；　although　he　was　rescued　by　his　comrades；　he
died　during　the　night。

As　peace　and　confidence　had　been　thoroughly　established　among　the
Shillooks；　I　determined　to　send　for　the　governor　of　Fashoda；　and　to
introduce　him　personally　to　the　old　king；　Quat　Kare；　whom　he　had
officially　reported　to　be　dead。　I　therefore　summoned　Quat　Kare；　and
having　informed　him　of　my　intention；　I　sent　the　steamer　to　Fashoda
（sixty…five　miles）；　and　invited　the　Koordi　to　pay　me　a　visit。

When　he　arrived；　I　received　him　beneath　the　tree　which　formed　my　divan；
and　after　a　preliminary　pipe　and　coffee；　we　proceeded　to　business。　I
told　him　that　he　must　have　been　in　error　when　he　reported　the　death　of
the　old　king；　as　I　had　proved　him　to　be　still　alive。　He　replied　that　he
did　not　believe　the　real　Quat　Kare　was　in　existence；　as　he　had　heard　on
the　best　authority　that　he　was　dead。　I　gave　an　order　to　an　aide…de…camp；
and　in　a　few　minutes　the　tall　and　stately　figure　of　the　old　king　was
seen　approaching；　accompanied　by　his　wives；　ministers；　and　a　crowd　of
most　orderly　retainers；　including　several　of　his　sons。　The　king　sat　down
upon　a　carpet　in　a　dignified　manner；　without　taking　the　slightest　notice
of　the　Koordi　governor。　His　two　wives　sat　down　by　him；　but　his　sons
stood　with　his　followers　a　few　yards　distant。

The　Koordi；　who　was　a　remarkably　handsome　old　man；　with　a　snow…white
beard；　sat　equally　unmoved；　smoking　the　long　chibook；　without　apparently
regarding　the　king　or　his　people。　The　chibook　is　a　most　useful
instrument　for　a　diplomat。　If　the　situation　is　difficult；　he　can　puff；
puff；　puff；　and　the　incorr