cattle£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡government¡¡officer
with¡¡a¡¡very¡¡small¡¡detachment¡£¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡captured
cows¡¡as¡¡a¡¡present¡¡to¡¡the¡¡officer¡¡in¡¡command£»¡¡Achmet¡¡Rafik£»¡¡who£»¡¡instead
of¡¡protesting¡¡against¡¡the¡¡razzia£»¡¡had£»¡¡Turk¡like£»¡¡actually¡¡accepted¡¡the
present£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡snare¡£
The¡¡natives£»¡¡smarting¡¡under¡¡the¡¡unprovoked¡¡attack£»¡¡visited¡¡Niambore£»¡¡and
desired¡¡him¡¡to¡¡send¡¡my¡¡men¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡evidently
leagued¡¡with¡¡those¡¡of¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡£¡¡The¡¡sheik¡¡Niambore¡¡refused£»¡¡and
declared¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡protect¡¡them¡¡until¡¡he¡¡received¡¡further¡¡orders
from¡¡me¡£¡¡This¡¡implicated¡¡Niambore£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡neighbours¡¡then¡¡insisted¡¡upon
the¡¡sacrifice¡¡of¡¡Achmet¡¡Rafik¡¡and¡¡his¡¡few¡¡soldiers¡¡in¡¡revenge¡¡for¡¡their
lost¡¡cattle¡£¡¡Niambore£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡chivalry¡¡that¡¡is¡¡rare¡¡among¡¡negroes£»
declared¡¡his¡¡determination¡¡of¡¡sheltering¡¡my¡¡people¡¡until¡¡he¡¡should
communicate¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡attacked¡¡at¡¡night¡¡by¡¡the¡¡neighbouring
sheiks£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡soldiers¡¡assisted¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡defence¡£¡¡The¡¡attack¡¡was
repulsed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡return¡¡the¡¡compliment¡¡on¡¡the¡¡following
day£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡long¡¡march¡¡across¡¡many
deep¡¡channels£»¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡went¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡precipitate
retreat£»¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡could¡¡not¡¡swim¡¡the¡¡deep¡¡channels¡¡like¡¡Niambore's
people£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡accordingly¡¡overtaken¡¡and¡¡killed£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of
their¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡accoutrements£»¡¡now¡¡in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natives¡£
Major¡¡Achmet¡¡Rafik¡¡and¡¡a¡¡corporal¡¡were¡¡safe£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡both¡¡ill£»¡¡and
had¡¡therefore¡¡not¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡five¡¡soldiers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡attack¡£¡¡Niambore
had¡¡faithfully¡¡exposed¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡great¡¡danger¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡their
protection£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡now¡¡in¡¡his¡¡keeping£»¡¡concealed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡forest
about¡¡a¡¡day's¡¡march¡¡from¡¡the¡¡village¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡their¡¡station¡£
On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡day¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡steamer¡¡off¡¡at¡¡9¡¡p¡£m¡£¡¡with¡¡Niambore¡¡and
twenty¡¡men£»¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡being¡¡full¡£¡¡The¡¡river¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡about¡¡four¡¡feet¡¡six
inches£»¡¡therefore¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡her¡¡touching¡¡a¡¡sand¡bank¡£¡¡At¡¡the
same¡¡time¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡Abou¡¡Saood£»¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡his¡¡responsibility
for¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡¡troops£»¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡his¡¡unprovoked¡¡and
unjustifiable¡¡aggression¡£¡¡£¨From¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡I¡¡of¡¡course¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡all
ideas¡¡of¡¡returning¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡captured¡¡by¡¡Abou¡¡Saood£»¡¡as¡¡I
had¡¡originally¡¡intended¡£¡¡Such¡¡an¡¡act£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡my¡¡men£»
would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡received¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Shir¡¡as¡¡a¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡fear¡££©
All¡¡my¡¡anticipations¡¡of¡¡successful¡¡cultivation¡¡had¡¡been¡¡fruitless¡£¡¡The
drought¡¡of¡¡this¡¡year¡¡had¡¡caused¡¡a¡¡general¡¡scarcity¡£¡¡The¡¡months¡¡of¡¡July
and¡¡August¡¡should¡¡have¡¡the¡¡heaviest¡¡rainfall£»¡¡July¡¡had¡¡just¡¡expired¡¡with
a¡¡rainfall¡¡of¡¡only¡¡1¡£13¡¡inch¡£¡¡The¡¡mean¡¡temperature¡¡had¡¡been¡¡71¡¡degrees¡¡F
at¡¡6¡¡a¡£m¡££»¡¡at¡¡noon£»¡¡84¡¡degrees¡¡F¡£
I¡¡was¡¡very¡¡anxious¡¡about¡¡our¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡dhurra£»¡¡which¡¡would¡¡not¡¡last¡¡much
longer¡£¡¡On¡¡1st¡¡August¡¡I¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡fifteen¡¡days'
rations¡¡of¡¡rice£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡save¡¡the¡¡small¡¡stock¡¡of¡¡dhurra¡¡until¡¡the¡¡crops
should¡¡be¡¡ripe¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡island¡£¡¡These¡¡were¡¡guarded¡¡by¡¡a¡¡company¡¡of
troops¡£¡¡I¡¡extract¡¡the¡¡following¡¡entry¡¡from¡¡my¡¡journal£º¡
¡¨August¡¡2£»¡¡1871¡£¡¡The¡¡Soudani¡¡soldiers¡¡are¡¡discontented¡¡with¡¡their
rations¡¡of¡¡dhurra£»¡¡and¡¡to¡day¡¡I¡¡was¡¡addressed¡¡by¡¡an¡¡unreasonable¡¡mob£»
demanding¡¡an¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡corn¡¡which¡¡does¡¡not¡¡exist¡£¡¡These¡¡people¡¡never
think¡¡of¡¡to¡morrow£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡long¡¡voyage¡¡from¡¡Tewfikeeyah¡¡they
have¡¡been¡¡stealing¡¡the¡¡corn£»¡¡and¡¡drinking¡¡merissa¡¡heedless¡¡of¡¡the
future¡£
¡¨The¡¡black¡¡colonel£»¡¡Tayib¡¡Agha£»¡¡is¡¡much¡¡to¡¡blame¡¡for¡¡the¡¡discontent£»¡¡as
he¡¡has£»¡¡upon¡¡several¡¡occasions£»¡¡in¡¡THE¡¡PRESENCE¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡TROOPS£»¡¡told¡¡Mr¡£
Higginbotham¡¡and¡¡myself¡¡that¡¡'the¡¡men¡¡could¡¡not¡¡work¡¡well¡¡because¡¡they
were¡¡hungry¡£'¡¡This¡¡foolish¡¡remark£»¡¡made¡¡before¡¡the¡¡soldiers¡¡by¡¡their¡¡own
lieutenant¡colonel£»¡¡is¡¡certain¡¡to¡¡create¡¡bad¡¡feeling¡£
¡¨I¡¡went¡¡across¡¡to¡¡the¡¡island¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡the¡¡corn£º¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡portion¡¡of
the¡¡crop¡¡will¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡in¡¡about¡¡eight¡¡days£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Baris£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of
the¡¡guards£»¡¡are¡¡stealing¡¡large¡¡quantities¡¡during¡¡the¡¡night¡£
¡¨The¡¡terrible¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡this¡¡country¡¡is¡¡the¡¡want¡¡of¡¡corn£»¡¡and¡¡now
that¡¡all¡¡direct¡¡communication¡¡with¡¡Khartoum¡¡is¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡by¡¡the
obstructions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Nile£»¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡is¡¡most¡¡serious¡£¡¡The¡¡natives¡¡are
all¡¡hostile£»¡¡thus¡¡a¡¡powerful¡¡force¡¡is¡¡absolutely¡¡necessary£»¡¡but¡¡the
difficulty¡¡is¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡this¡¡force¡£
¡¨I¡¡wrote¡¡an¡¡official¡¡letter¡¡to¡¡Raouf¡¡Bey¡¡to¡¡caution¡¡Lieutenant¡Colonel
Tayib¡¡Agha¡¡against¡¡making¡¡remarks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡troops¡£¡¨
On¡¡August¡¡3¡¡the¡¡steamer¡¡returned£»¡¡bringing¡¡Achmet¡¡Rafik¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sole
surviving¡¡soldier¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Shir¡£¡¡This¡¡officer¡¡declared¡¡his¡¡men¡¡to¡¡have
been¡¡insubordinate£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡against¡¡his¡¡orders
to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡attack¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡enemies¡¡in¡¡return¡¡for¡¡attacks¡¡on¡¡their
part¡£
Two¡¡witnesses£»¡¡the¡¡surviving¡¡soldier¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡one¡¡that¡¡was
killed£»¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡Achmet¡¡Rafik¡¡himself¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡men¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡fight
the¡¡tribe£»¡¡in¡¡company¡¡with¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Niambore£»¡¡but¡¡fearing
responsibility¡¡for¡¡the¡¡result£»¡¡he¡¡now¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡onus¡¡of¡¡failure¡¡upon¡¡the
insubordination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡£¡¡£¨The¡¡fact¡¡remained¡¡that¡¡in¡¡consequence¡¡of
the¡¡razzia¡¡made¡¡by¡¡Abou¡¡Saood's¡¡orders¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡attacked¡¡Niambore¡¡and
my¡¡people¡£¡¡In¡¡self¡defence£»¡¡Niambore¡¡and¡¡my¡¡few¡¡men¡¡returned¡¡the
attack£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡soldiers¡¡were¡¡killed¡£¡¡The¡¡Shir¡¡were¡¡thus¡¡rendered¡¡hostile
with¡¡the¡¡exception¡¡of¡¡Niambore¡££©
My¡¡people¡¡were¡¡so¡¡obtuse¡¡that¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡true
position¡¡of¡¡affairs¡£¡¡The¡¡harvest¡¡was¡¡commencing¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡jealously¡¡guarded
the¡¡corn¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡island£»¡¡which¡¡should¡¡have¡¡produced¡¡at¡¡least¡¡500
urdeps£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡men¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡granaries
filled£»¡¡as¡¡that¡¡fact¡¡would¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡excuse¡¡for¡¡a¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Khartoum£»
thus£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡labouring¡¡with¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡soul¡¡to¡¡gather¡¡the¡¡harvest£»
they¡¡worked¡¡so¡¡lazily£»¡¡that¡¡in¡¡nine¡¡days¡¡they¡¡only¡¡reaped¡¡237¡¡urdeps£»¡¡or
not¡¡one¡¡half¡¡that¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡fields¡£¡¡They¡¡permitted¡¡the
natives¡¡to¡¡steal¡¡by¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡swarms¡¡of¡¡small¡¡birds¡¡destroyed¡¡an
incredible¡¡quantity¡¡by¡¡day¡£¡¡These¡¡innumerable¡¡and¡¡ruinous¡¡pests¡¡do¡¡not
consume¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡grain£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡nibble¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡sweet¡¡portion¡¡from
the¡¡joint¡¡of¡¡each¡¡seed£»¡¡neatly¡¡picking¡¡out¡¡the¡¡heart£»¡¡thus¡¡the¡¡ground
beneath¡¡is¡¡strewed¡¡with¡¡their¡¡remnants¡¡of¡¡destruction¡£
I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡visited¡¡Belinian¡¡since¡¡their¡¡unprovoked¡¡attack£»¡¡for¡¡two
reasons¡£¡¡First£»¡¡we¡¡were¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡fortifying¡¡the¡¡station£»¡¡and£»
secondly£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡suspicion¡¡among¡¡the¡¡Baris¡¡that¡¡I
might¡¡come¡¡down¡¡suddenly¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡crops¡£¡¡Up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡present¡¡time¡¡we¡¡had
acted¡¡mainly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡defensive£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡no¡¡fear¡¡for¡¡their
harvest¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡about¡¡2£»000¡¡acres¡¡of¡¡dhurra¡¡would¡¡be¡¡at¡¡our¡¡service
by¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡attack¡¡on¡¡Belinian£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡would¡¡work¡¡earnestly¡¡to
secure¡¡it¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡I¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡the¡¡subject£»¡¡lest
some¡¡intrigue¡¡might¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡success¡£
If¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡or¡¡his¡¡people¡¡had¡¡possessed¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡my¡¡intentions£»
they¡¡would¡¡at¡¡once¡¡have¡¡given¡¡warning¡¡to¡¡our¡¡enemies£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have
destroyed¡¡my¡¡plans¡£¡¡Both¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡and¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the
officers¡¡were¡¡anxiously¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡close¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drama£»¡¡as¡¡they
imagined¡¡that¡¡with¡¡the¡¡disappearance¡¡of¡¡supplies£»¡¡the¡¡curtain¡¡would¡¡fall
upon¡¡the¡¡last¡¡act¡£
I¡¡possessed¡¡information¡¡that¡¡would¡¡render¡¡me¡¡independent¡¡of¡¡corn¡¡from
Khartoum£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡would¡¡only¡¡work¡¡honestly¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡at¡¡open¡¡war
with¡¡the¡¡Baris£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡constantly¡¡subjected¡¡to¡¡their¡¡attacks¡£¡¡I
had¡¡arranged¡¡my¡¡plans¡¡to¡¡complete¡¡my¡¡forts¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡a
campaign¡¡at¡¡the¡¡commencement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harvest£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡country¡¡would¡¡be
full¡¡of¡¡corn¡£¡¡My¡¡two¡¡rich¡¡harvests¡¡would¡¡be¡¡Beliniantwelve¡¡miles
distant¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fruitful¡¡islands¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡Regiaf£»¡¡about
fourteen¡¡miles¡¡south¡¡of¡¡Gondokoro¡£¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easily¡¡collected£»
as¡¡the¡¡vessels¡¡could¡¡load¡¡at¡¡the¡¡islands£»¡¡and¡¡convey¡¡the¡¡cargoes¡¡down
stream¡¡direct¡¡to¡¡head¡quarters¡£
Everything¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡men¡£¡¡Raouf¡¡Bey£»¡¡who¡¡commanded
the¡¡troops£»¡¡was¡¡in¡¡daily¡¡communication¡¡with¡¡Abou¡¡Saood£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡exerting
himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡to¡¡ruin¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡by¡¡promoting¡¡discontent£»
and¡¡persuading¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡die¡¡of¡¡starvation£»¡¡and¡¡that
the¡¡Baris¡¡were¡¡most¡¡dangerous¡¡enemies£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡exterminate¡¡the¡¡troops
should¡¡I¡¡weaken¡¡the¡¡force¡¡by¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡detachment¡¡to¡¡form¡¡stations¡¡in¡¡the
interior¡£
It¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡pre¡arranged¡¡by¡¡my¡¡own¡¡people¡¡that£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of
plenty£»¡¡the¡¡corn¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡collected¡¡in¡¡any¡¡larger¡¡quantity¡¡than
would¡¡suffice¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡during¡¡the¡¡return¡¡voyage¡¡from
Gondokoro¡¡to¡¡Khartoum¡£
In¡¡that¡¡case£»¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡would¡¡be¡¡broken¡¡up¡¡and¡¡abandoned¡£¡¡The
authorities¡¡would¡¡piously¡¡ejaculate£»¡¡¡¨El¡¡hambd¡¡el¡¡Allah£¡¡¨¡¡£¨Thanks¡¡be¡¡to
God£¡£©¡¡The¡¡country¡¡would¡¡once¡¡more¡¡fall¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡by
contract¡¡with¡¡the¡¡government¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Soudan¡£¡¡The¡¡good¡¡old¡¡times¡¡of
slave¡hunting¡¡would¡¡return¡¡and¡¡remain¡¡undisturbed¡£¡¡The¡¡Christian¡¡would
have¡¡been¡¡got¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡by¡¡an¡¡ignominious¡¡failure¡£¡¡Abou¡¡Saood¡¡would¡¡have
boasted¡¡of¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡his¡¡diplomacy£»¡¡and¡¡Allorron¡¡and¡¡his¡¡Baris£»
once¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡restraint¡¡of¡¡a¡¡government£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡fraternized
again¡¡with¡¡their¡¡allies¡¡the¡¡slave¡hunters£»¡¡to¡¡pillage£»¡¡kidnap£»¡¡and
desolate¡¡the¡¡productive¡¡countries¡¡of¡¡Central¡¡Africa¡£
I¡¡determined¡¡that¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡should¡¡succeed£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡God's¡¡help£»¡¡I
would¡¡overcome¡¡every¡¡opposition¡£
The¡¡forts¡¡were¡¡completed¡£¡¡Gondokoro£»¡¡or£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡named¡¡it£»¡¡Ismailia£»
was¡¡protected¡¡by¡¡a¡¡ditch¡¡and¡¡earthwork£»¡¡with¡¡bastions¡¡mounting¡¡ten¡¡guns¡£
My¡¡little¡¡station¡¡was¡¡also¡¡fortified£»¡¡thus¡¡I¡¡could¡¡commence¡¡a¡¡campaign
against¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡Bari¡¡tribe£»¡¡without¡¡fearing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡of¡¡my¡¡base¡£
On¡¡August¡¡30£»¡¡1871£»¡¡I¡¡started¡¡with¡¡a¡¡force¡¡of¡¡450¡¡men£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡gun£»¡¡and
one¡¡rocket¡trough¡¡for¡¡Hale's¡¡three¡pounder¡¡rockets¡£
I¡¡left¡¡twenty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Forty¡¡Thieves¡¨¡¡at¡¡my¡¡little¡¡station£»¡¡together¡¡with
a¡¡reinforcement¡¡of¡¡thirty¡¡men¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ordered¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡the
diahbeeah£»¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡my¡¡wife¡¡resided£»¡¡to¡¡push¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡off¡¡the¡¡bank
and¡¡to¡¡anchor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡every¡¡night¡£
The¡¡Baris¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Belinian¡¡Mountain¡¡were¡¡well¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡guns¡¡and
ammunition£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡various¡¡massacres¡¡of¡¡the
slave¡traders'¡¡parties¡¡some¡¡years¡¡before¡£¡¡On¡¡one¡¡occasion¡¡they¡¡had
killed¡¡126¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tra