ismailia-第58章

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conduct。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　assembly。

With　great　readiness　the　troops　left　the　vessels；　and　having　formed；
they　marched　up　the　slope　with　drums　and　bugles。　I　now　made　a　display　of
force；　and　once　more　addressed　the　natives；　explaining　that　the　men　were
hungry　and　would　take　their　corn　gratis　unless　they　would　agree　to　sell
a　portion。

The　natives　sullenly　withdrew　to　a　greater　distance；　and　commenced
blowing　their　whistles；　and　making　a　peculiar　shrill　cry　which　is　used
by　them　generally　in　derision　and　contempt　of　an　enemy。　The　last　words
we　distinguished　as　they　increased　their　distance；　were　a　threat　to
exterminate　us　during　the　night；　if　we　dared　to　remain　in　their　country。

It　appeared　hopeless　to　attempt　a　peaceful　communication　with　the　Baris。
This　portion　of　the　country　to　the　south　of　Regiaf　was　immensely
populous；　and　the　natives　were　more　dreaded　by　the　slave…traders　than
any　other。　I　now　determined　to　examine　some　of　the　villages。

Having　extended　the　men　in　line　so　as　to　cover　about　half　a　mile；　I
ordered　the　advance　towards　the　hill　of　Regiaf；　with　strict　orders　that
no　soldier　was　to　enter　a　hut；　but　they　were　simply　to　examine　the
villages　as　they　passed　through；　by　tapping　the　numerous　wicker　googoos
or　granaries　with　their　hands；　to　prove　whether　they　were　full；　These
neat　little　granaries　contained　generally　about　forty　bushels；　but　they
varied　in　size：　some　would　have　held　more　than　double　that　quantity。

The　natives　watched　us　in　considerable　numbers　from　all　points。　In　this
manner　we　examined　twenty　or　thirty　villages；　each　of　which　contained　at
least　fifteen　googoos；　nearly　all　of　which　were　quite　full　of　corn。　The
entire　country　was　overflowing　with　dhurra　and　sesame。　As　far　as　the　eye
could　reach　were　innumerable　villages；　all　of　which　we　knew　were　stores
of　abundance；　by　the　samples　we　had　already　examined。

From　the　high　land　of　Regiaf；　we　looked　down　upon　a　long　series　of　rich
islands　in　the　river；　that　appeared　to　be　nothing　but　a　line　of
granaries；　as　I　could　distinguish　with　the　telescope　the　numerous　clumps
of　googoos　and　small　villages　that　fringed　the　fertile　banks　of　these
welcome　retreats。

I　felt　as　the　Israelites；　when　the　manna　and　the　quails　appeared　in　the
desert。　Thank　God；　we　were　delivered　from　the　danger　of　famine；　and　we
had　at　length　arrived　at　the　Promised　Land。

Even　the　officers；　all　of　whom　had　signed　the　declaration　〃that　there
was　no　corn　in　the　country；　therefore　they　must　return　to　Khartoum；〃
looked　delighted；　and　exclaimed　〃Mashallah！〃

I　felt　the　relief；　for　I　had　suffered　much　anxiety；　but　outwardly　I　took
it　very　coolly；　and　quite　as　a　matter　of　course。　I　explained　to　the
officers　and　men；　that　of　course　they　were　ignorant　of　the　country；　but
that　if　they　relied　upon　me；　I　should　always　lead　them　（〃Inshallah！〃）
into　a　land　of　plenty。　The　black　officers　now　began　to　exclaim；
〃Wah…Illai！　the　Pacha　knows　the　country　well！　Who　would　have　believed
when　at　Gondokoro　that　there　was　corn　enough　for　a　couple　of　years
within　a　day's　march？〃

〃A　couple　of　years！〃　cried　another；　〃we　couldn't　eat　this　corn　in　ten
years！〃

〃We　might　drink　merissa　every　day　in　this　country；〃　exclaimed　others　of
the　soldiers。

Sailors　who　have　been　in　danger　of　shipwreck；　with　a　rocky　shore　close
on　the　lea　in　a　heavy　gale；　may　understand　the　relief　offered　by　a
sudden　shift　of　wind　in　the　moment　of　extremity。　Such　experience　alone
can　allow　an　appreciation　of　the　mental　reaction　after　a　great　strain　of
anxiety　that　I　had　suffered　for　some　time　past。

A　certain　knowledge　of　human　nature　determined　me　to　improve；　without　a
moment's　delay；　the　opportunity；　while　the　troops　were　under　the　first
impulse　of　astonishment　and　delight。

I　addressed　myself　to　the　〃Forty　Thieves〃　in　particular；　and　to　the　line
generally；　and　explained　〃the　pleasure　that　I　felt　in　now　being　able　to
increase　their　rations　of　corn；　that　had　been　reduced　by　half。　At　the
same　time　I　had　been　much　dissatisfied　with　the　small　collection　they
had　made　from　the　harvest　at　Belinian。　I　knew　the　country；　and　this　was
the　only　true　granary　that　admitted　of　river　transport　to　Gondokoro。　If
they　neglected　this　opportunity；　the　rations　would　again　be　reduced；　but
upon　no　account　whatever　should　I　permit　the　return　to　Khartoum　of　any
officers　or　men；　except　those　who　could　present　a　medical　certificate　of
chronic　bad　health。　I　should　thus　get　rid　of　the　useless　mouths；　which
would　relieve　the　strong　men　from　the　work　of　gathering　corn　to　feed　the
weak；　who　could　not　perform　their　share　of　the　labour。〃

I　concluded　by　recommending　them　〃to　thank　God；　and　to　set　to　work　with
good　will。〃

I　marched　my　men　to　several　villages　deserted　by　their　inhabitants；
which　I　occupied　in　force；　and　anchored　the　vessels　close　to　the　bank
beneath　them。　Having　sent　for　Raouf　Bey；　I　made　no　other　remark；　than　to
give　the　orders　necessary　for　the　night。　This　melancholy　officer　looked
more　miserable　than　usual；　and　his　expression　reminded　me　of　one　of
Dante's　damned　souls；　as　illustrated　by　Gustave　Dore。

The　sun　sank；　and　I　had　not　tasted　food　for　twenty…four　hours。　I　was
without　my　wife；　therefore　I　was　not　very　particular；　my　good　Monsoor
having　foraged；　produced　some　pumpkin　soup；　as　he　termed　it；　which　was
composed　of　a　very　watery　pumpkin　boiled　in　water　without　salt。　The　next
dish　was　the　very　simple　native　luxury　of　dhurra　flour　boiled　into　a
thick　porridge。　I　was　very　hungry　and　very　happy；　thus　I　ate　the　plain
fare　with　a　good　appetite。

Monsoor　had　made　a　fire　with　dry　cattle…dung；　and　spread　a　native　mat　on
the　ground；　close　to　the　smoke；　upon　which　I　could　sleep　if　the
mosquitoes　would　allow　me。　I　lay　as　close　to　the　smoke　as　possible；　with
a　comfortable　log　of　wood　for　a　pillow；　and　pondered　over　the　events　of
the　day；　feeling　very　thankful　for　the　change　of　circumstances；　and
making　plans　for　the　morrow　until　I　fell　asleep。

No　sooner　had　the　bugles　sounded　the　morning　call；　than　I　was　up　and
off。　I　instructed　Raouf　Bey　to　take　a　company　of　troops　with　the
vessels；　and　occupy　the　islands。　At　the　same　time；　I　marched　through　the
country　to　the　south；　and　having　passed　about　three　hours　in
exploration；　I　formed　two　stations　in　excellent　positions；　and　divided
my　men　equally　under　Lieutenant…Colonel　Achmet　and　Major　Abdullah。　These
stations　were　about　a　mile　apart；　upon　high　ground；　and　commanded　a　view
of　Raouf　Bey's　vessels；　that　were　already　anchored　at　the　island　about　a
mile　and　a　half　below　them。　The　three　positions　formed　a　triangle；　in
the　very　heart　of　the　greatest　abundance。

Having　concluded　these　arrangements　and　established　my　positions；　with
the　necessary　instructions　to　the　officers　in　command；　I　returned　to　the
river；　and　prepared　to　start　for　Gondokoro　in　the　little　dingy。　I　did
not　wish　to　take　a　large　vessel；　therefore　I　ordered　Raouf　Bey　to　fill
the　noggurs　with　corn　as　rapidly　as　possible；　and　to　start　them　off　when
full　to　Gondokoro。　The　granaries　on　the　islands　were　all　full；　and　close
to　the　banks；　therefore　the　vessels　lay　alongside；　as　though　in　a　dock；
and　could　load　with　great　ease。

I　started　in　the　dingy　with　two　boatmen　to　row；　accompanied　by　Monsoor
and　two　soldiers　of　〃The　Forty。〃

The　stream　ran　at　three　miles　and　a　half　per　hour：　thus；　with　good
pulling；　we　reached　head…quarters　in　one　hour　and　thirty…two　minutes；　a
distance　of　about　ten　miles　and　a　half。

I　believe　it　is　common　to　human　nature　to　love　to　carry　good　news。　The
sight　of　the　little　dingy　approaching　Gondokoro　alone；　had　given　rise　to
all　kinds　of　surmises；　and　when　I　reached　the　shore；　a　crowd　of
officers；　soldiers；　sailors；　and　women　were　standing　in　expectation　upon
the　cliff。　My　men　immediately　recounted　all　particulars。

Great　was　the　joy　of　the　English　party　at　the　news　of　our　success。　This
flew　through　the　station；　and　the　Egyptian　officers　and　soldiers　slunk
away；　whereas；　the　black　wives　of　the　Soudani　regiment　were　delighted；
as　they　did　not　wish　to　go　to　Khartoum。　These　women　were　slaves　that　I
had　liberated；　and　they　always　imagined　that　if　they　should　arrive　at
Khartoum；　they　would　be　so