that quarter。
I had more than filled one of the great magazines with corn： therefore；
including the dhurra now on board several vessels； I had about twelve
months' supply for the expedition。
Although my force was terribly reduced in numbers； the men who remained
were strong and healthy。 I did not despair； but I determined that this
reduction of military force should NOT paralyze the activity of the
expedition； and that in spite of every intrigue； I would succeed in the
main objects of the enterprise； the slave trade should be suppressed；
and the territory should be annexed to the equator。
On 10th November I took a hundred and fifty men in order to make a
reconnaissance of the country； at the last cataracts of the White Nile；
about six miles south of our position。
We started early； and marched along the high ground parallel with the
river； passing the spot where the natives had attacked us some days
previous。 Nothing could exceed the beauty of this country as an
agricultural settlement。 The long； sloping undulations were ornamented
with innumerable villages； in all of which were overflowing granaries。
On arrival at the dry bed of a broad stream； we ascended a slope； and to
my astonishment I noticed a considerable body of natives who neither ran
away nor appeared hostile in their demeanour。 Leaving my rifle with
Monsoor； I rode up within fifty yards of them； apparently unarmed； but I
had a pair of breech…loading pistols in my holsters。
My Bari interpreter； Morgian； now explained； that I was only on an
exploration； and that I had no intention of disturbing their property； I
only desired to communicate with their sheik。
For the first time I received a civil answer from the Baris。 They
explained； that although they were Baris； they had no connection with
the people who had fought us。 They were governed by a great sheik named
Bedden； whose territory was bounded by the torrent bed that we had just
crossed。 They promised that he should pay me a visit on the morrow： in
the mean tine； if we required any corn； they would supply us。 This was a
politeness to which I was quite unaccustomed。 I therefore thanked them；
but declined their offer； saying that I wanted nothing from them except
friendship。
I now discovered； that these people had never had any communication with
the slave…traders； who were afraid to molest so powerful a tribe。
At parting； I gave them a white handkerchief as a signal to our
sentries； when they should arrive。
We then returned to our station； the troops sharing the satisfaction
that I felt in having at length discovered friends。
On the following day at about 3 p。m。 the sentry on the hill called to
the guard； that a very large body of natives was approaching the
station。
I presumed that these were the followers of Bedden。 I therefore ascended
the slope and examined them with the telescope。
My suspicions were aroused from the extraordinary number of people； at
least 700 natives were accompanying their sheik。
I returned to camp； and made arrangements to receive his visit with a
guard of honour。 I drew up a hundred men parallel with the river； about
fifty yards from the bank； near the bow of my diahbeeah。 Fifty men were
in line at right angles with the river： thus the lines formed two sides
of a square。
In the front I placed the fieldpiece loaded with canister shot。 I
intended to receive Bedden with due honour in the hollow square thus
protected。 In the event of treachery； his force could be almost
annihilated by one discharge。
The hill sentry now reported the arrival of a messenger； who waved a
white handkerchief on the end of a bamboo。 This was the signal agreed
upon； and the messenger was allowed to pass。 He communicated the fact of
Bedden's approach： in a few minutes later the great sheik arrived。
He was very tall and gaunt； and without any delay； both he and his
people were ushered into the hollow square； where they all stuck their
lances in the ground and sat down。
I now sent for Bedden and a few of his principal men to the poop deck of
my diahbeeah； which； being covered with carpets； and arranged with sofas
and chairs； was something very astonishing to the great sheik； who had
never seen anything but a vessel in the distance。
I explained the objects of the expedition； at the same time I presented
him with a long Egyptian blue shirt that reached to his ankles； and made
him look more respectable。 A crimson sash round his waist； and a red
tarboosh （fez） upon his head； improved his appearance wonderfully； and
he began to feel at home。
I presented him with six pounds of beads of various colours； together
with some strings of harness bells。 Brass bugles and a large mirror
attracted more attention than any other curiosities。
I gave him a brass bugle； to his great delight。 The use of the cannon
was then explained to him； and the effects of the shell were pardonably
exaggerated to produce a respect for the weapon。
He gave us six pots of merissa and some fowls； promising to come again
tomorrow。
All these people believe in sorcery； and each sheik possesses spells and
conjurers。 Tortoise shells； scales of the manis； lions' claws； and those
of the leopard； roots； knots of trees of peculiar shape； and many other
things； are worn as talismans。
My wife's parrot was supposed to be a cojoor； or fetish。 This was the
grey bird of West Africa； that was unknown in these parts。 The
interpreter explained that 〃it could speak like a human being； and that
it flew about the country and listened to what people saidall of
which it repeated to its mistress and myself； thus we knew everything
that occurred； and the natives could not deceive us。〃 This parrot was
exceedingly tame； and was never confined。 It was now walking about the
deck； and while its extraordinary powers were being described by my Bari
interpreter； Morgian； to the amazement and fear of the natives； it
advanced stoutly to the sheik Bedden； and would have bitten his big toe
had he not quickly jumped up and taken leave。
The magnetic battery and the large musical box were also believed to be
magic。
At sunset； the great sheik departed in the best of spirits； with all his
people； as he had drunk a tumbler of Marsala before he started； in order
to try the quality of our merissa。
The population of this country is very large； and the natives are good
agriculturists。 Although the soil is stony； it is very productive； as
the cultivation is carefully attended to。 Dhurra； sesame； dochan； and
beans； in addition to a species of Hibiscus which produces an edible
seed and also a fine fibre； are sown in exact oblongs or squares
resembling the plots in allotment…grounds in England。 Near the villages
are large heaps of manure； collected from the cattle zareebas。 These are
mixed with the sweepings of the stations； and the ashes from the
cattle…fires； and are divided when required among the proprietors of the
herds。
Each cow of the zareeba is entitled to a certain measure of manure at
the commencement of the rains； when all hands turn out to cultivate；
thus the owner of many cows is enabled to farm a large area。
The cows are all herded in one or two pens； thus the whole manure is
heaped； and； when divided； is measured in large baskets。 It is then
distributed very thickly over the field； and is roughly hoed with the
iron molote； the seed been thrown upon the manure broadcast； previous to
the hoeing。
The geological appearance of the country would suggest the presence of
precious metals。 Large masses of rose…coloured and icy…white quartz
project from the surface in dikes。 These run for miles in tolerably
direct lines； like walls； from west to east。 Generally the rocks are
granitic； consisting of syenite and gneiss； with micacious schist in the
lower valleys。 Occasionally； dikes of basalt break through the surface；
which is generally much denuded； and the rocks are weather…worn and
decomposed。
I have frequently washed for gold in the most likely spots among the
deep holes of ravines； where the torrents have worn away the bed； but I
have found no sign of either precious stones or metals。 Magnetic iron
ore in large quantities is the only metal to be discovered in the
river…beds。
On 13th November； at sunrise； Lieutenant Baker started with the troops
to convey corn from a distant village。 I was sitting on the poop…deck of
the diahbeeah； enjoying a pipe and a cup of coffee； when he suddenly
galloped back with the news that a herd of bull elephants was
approaching from the west。 I was not prepared for elephant…shooting； and
I recommended him to return to the troops； who would otherwise waste
their time。 I had no suspicion that elephants would approach our
position after having been disturbed by the soldiers； in a country that
was perfectly open。
Lieutenant Baker cantered back to his men； while I commenced to write up
my daily journal according to my daily custom。
In about a quarter of an hour； the sentry reported a herd of elephants。
All my people clambered up upon the googoos and buts to obtain a good
view of the herd； which from the high poop…deck of the diahbeeah we
could see distinctly。
There were eleven bulls； and they were marching in close order along the
bank of the river； approaching us at about 400 yards' distance。
I should have thought it almost as likely to meet a herd of elephants in
Hyde Park as to find them in this open and thickly…populated country。 I
now distinguished natives along the distant heights； all of whom were
attracted by the uncommon occurrence。
In the mean time the elephants approached； swinging their trunks and
huge ears to and fro； apparently unconscious of the presence of the
vessels and people。
I always kept my guns and ammunition in beautiful order； arranged on a
rack in the cabin。 On the left…hand side were the shotguns； i。e。； two
breechloading No。 12； four muzzleloading No。 10。 On the right； the
rifles： the little 〃Dutchman；〃 two breechloading Reilly No。 8； two
muzzleloading Holland half…pounders； that carried an iron lead…coated
explosive shell； containing a bursting charge of half an ounce of fine
grain powder。 These two elephant rifles were very hard hitter