the usual exclamation if any doubt was thrown on the character of a
soldier。 The fact of his belonging to 〃The Forty〃 was a sufficient
certificate。
The regimental arrangements at head…quarters had been sadly neglected；
as the men were necessarily so much engaged in other work that they had
no time for drill except on Fridays。 The 〃Forty Thieves〃 were well
officered； having the advantage of a lieutenant…colonel and a captain；
together with two most active and courageous lieutenants； who had lately
received their promotion for good conduct： these were my faithful
Monsoor Agha； and Ferritch Agba。 The young soldier； who had been
condemned to be shot for desertion the previous year； had shown such
devotion and activity that he was promised the next vacancy in the rank
of corporal。 The non…commissioned officers were soldiers who had seen
much service； and the corps was in a highly efficient state with the
exception of the rifle practice。
While at Tewfikeeyah； having paid much attention to this all…important
point； I had instructed the officers and men personally； and I had
established prize…shooting to give an additional interest to the work。
Both officers and men now took an immense pleasure in rifle practice；
but it appeared almost impossible to make them good shots。 Out of
forty…eight officers and men； I had only fifteen who could be called
real hitters； the others were only shooters。
The great difficulty was to instruct them in distances。 I frequently
took them away from camp and made them guess the distance in paces from
some particular object； such as a tree； or white…ant hill。 Very few of
the men had the slightest idea of this important subject； but at the
commencement； even the officers were perfectly ignorant。 At length； by
constant practice at the target； varying the range from 100 to 300
yards； about a third of the corps became fair shots； and these few were
tolerably good judges of distance up to 400 yards。 The colonel； Abd…el…
Kader； became an excellent shot； as he was an officer who took great
interest in his profession。 The remainder of the corps shot as well as
they could； and took great pains； but although they were considered
crack marksmen by the line…regiments； their reputation would have
suffered if their deficiencies had been exposed。 At any rate； they were
very dangerous with such a weapon as the snider； when firing into masses
of the enemy。
I distinguished 〃The Forty〃 from the line regiment by a scarlet uniform；
this was a simple red flannel shirt； worn outside their Zouave trouser；
and secured by a belt； with ammunition…pouches； round the waist。 This
uniform； with linen gaiters； and with a head…dress of the scarlet fez；
bound by a turban of cobalt blue； looked remarkably well。
In active service； the officers carried sniders； thus； the corps
complete consisted of forty…eight sniders； but together with Lieutenant
Baker and myself； it comprised fifty rifles。
The high state of discipline and the fine morale of this little force
was a good example of what may be effected； even with a material of so
low a reputation as the negro。 My men were natives of various tribes
scattered over an immense extent of Central Africa。 Each had a certain
love of the country from which he had been originally stolen by the
slave…traders when a boy； before he found his way into government
service。 I always endeavoured to keep up this feeling； and to create
emulation among the men of different tribes； thus； a native of Pongo
would assume a superiority over a Dinka； although the Dinka considered
himself of a higher class than a Pongo。 A Noba regarded himself as
superior to all others。 But by degrees I established a principle that
was generally accepted by them allthat an old soldier with a good
reputation should take precedence of all others； without reference to
caste or tribe。 Thus； the aim of all young privates would be to become
old soldiers； and to rise in rank according to their merits。 There were
several excellent examples of good soldiers in 〃The Forty；〃 among whom
stood first Mohammed…el…Feel； sergeant of the body…guard。 The latter
comprised ten men； selected from 〃The Forty〃 as creme de la creme；
these men were exempted from all labour； and they formed the guard of
two sentries by night； and one by day。
The discipline of this picked corps〃Abd…el…Kader and the Forty
Thieves〃was the commencement of a great moral reform； that resulted in
an improved tone throughout the force； which ultimately did the great
work of the expedition。
The efficiency of 〃The Forty〃 was an established fact of what could be
accomplished where officers and men were governed by that peculiar
confidence that bound them together as one man。 Throughout the
expedition； after this confidence had been once established； I never for
an instant doubted the fidelity of my men； they would have followed me
through fire or water； without the slightest hesitation。 In action； 〃The
Forty〃 were always in advance； and they were watched with eagerness and
even pride by the other regiments： when thrown out as skirmishers they
climbed rocks； pushed through jungles； and cleared the enemy from the
country with irresistible activity。 Promotion from the line to 〃The
Forty〃 was considered as an honour； and so perfect was the esprit de
corps； that in the event of a vacancy being caused by sickness； or other
cause； the men reported to me the character of the new…comer before he
was admitted； and respectfully declined to receive him if he bore a
doubtful reputation； virtually he was 〃black…balled。〃
A corps of this character was a nucleus for an extension of military
morality。 The 〃Forty Thieves〃 would not admit a thief； and they became
generally accepted as a model of what government soldiers should become。
I believe that if it were possible to convert the greater portion of
African savages into disciplined soldiers； it would be the most rapid
stride towards their future civilization。 The fact of obedience being
enforced； and the necessity of order； industry； and discipline； together
with clothing and cleanliness； is all that is absolutely required to
bring a savage within the bounds of good management。 A savage who has
led a wild and uncontrolled life must first learn to obey authority
before any great improvement can be expected。 A soldier must obey； and
he learns to respect his officers as his superiors； thus； a savage who
has learnt all that he knows from his officers； whom he admits as his
superiors； will quickly adopt their religion； as he has been obliged to
adopt their military rules。 My soldiers were all Mohammedans； simply
because they had been taught by their officers that good soldiers should
be true believers。
As I have already described； my station was a mile and a half distant
from head…quarters； and the arrangements under my personal inspection
were very different from the lax discipline of the officers at
Gondokoro。
The natives of Belinian had disregarded the warning they had received；
and now； having leagued themselves with the Baris of Gondokoro； they
were constantly on the watch for an opportunity of surprising the cattle
guards。 Concealing themselves behind thick foliage； they stalked the
careless sentries with the adroitness of American Indians； and sometimes
succeeded in making a dash and driving off a few head of cattle。
I was obliged to take extra precautions during the night； as my little
station was dependent only upon 〃The Forty；〃 while the camp at
head…quarters was occupied by 1；100 men； in addition to about 400
sailors； and the six Englishmen。
The natives disturbed us every night； and were constantly fired at by
the sentries。 I served out cartridges containing eight…mould shot； each
to be rammed down over the ball in the muskets for the night sentries：
these would be more likely to hit a thief in the dark than a single
bullet。 The muskets were given to the sentries in addition to their
rifles。
I placed my men every night； concealed by cover so as to command the
various approaches。 The station was conveniently situated； as a large
and deep lake completely defended the north flank for a distance of
about 400 yards。 The river defended the east face： thus we were only
open on two sides； one of which was commanded by the camp of 〃The
Forty。〃
On 28th June it rained steadily during the night。 The Baris considered
that our sentries would be under cover； or would most likely not expect
an attack； they therefore resolved to attempt a surprise。 Their advanced
scouts approached warily in the dark； but long before they had reached
the sentries； they passed within a few feet of a party of guards
concealed behind a white…ant hill。 A shot from a musket stretched one
Bari dead。 The guards pounced upon another and seized him by the throat。
This was a native of Belinian； he was accordingly hanged on the
following morning to a tree in the pathway by which the Belinian Baris
arrived through the forest to attack the camp。 This it was hoped would
be a warning that might deter others。 （Throughout the expedition this
was the only native who was hanged。 Neither was any native shot or
otherwise executed when taken prisoner； except a spy at Belinian。）
On 5th July the natives made an attempt on the cattle； and shot a sentry
with an arrow。
On 7th July the Baris attacked the camp during the night。
On 8th July I sent a company to take possession and to hold the island。
They met the natives； and Monsoor and Achmet Bash Choush had a narrow
escape from lances。 The Baris lost three killed and two prisoners。
On that day the river rose four feet six； which was the highest flood
during the wet season。
On 10th July； at mid…day； several hundred Baris； having cautiously
approached the grazing cattle unobserved； made a sudden rush from the
bushes upon the guards； killing one soldier and wounding another。 The
soldiers belonged to the line； and must have behaved badly； as the
musket and cartouche…box and belt were stolen and carried off from the
dead man。 The shots from the guard immediately alarmed the camp。 The
horses were saddled； and； attended by Lieutenant Baker； I rode hard in
pursuit。 The natives had gained the for