arrived to beg that their chief might be received； as they all desired
peace。
On the following morning I held a general levee。 About twenty headmen；
or sheiks of principal villages； attended by many of their people； came
to present themselves and to sue for peace。 I received the chiefs on my
diahbeeah； and each received a present of a long blue shirt as he
stepped on board。 They now seated themselves by Bedden； and a general
explanation took place。
I assured them of my regret that they had forced me into war； as my
mission to the country had been one of peace； at the same time they must
have seen how impossible it was to resist the troops who were armed with
weapons of precision； and drilled in a manner very different from the
companies of slave…hunters。
I told them that I had many thousand cattle； and that had they agreed to
sell me the corn that was absolutely needed for the troops； I should
have paid for it punctually with cows； as I had promised them when I
first entered their district。 I also explained that； as they must have
observed； I had never taken a single head of cattle from them； although
I had frequently heard the lowing of their oxen。 I had adopted this
conduct； although in actual war； merely to impress upon them the fact
that they might depend upon my word。 I had offered to exchange my cattle
for their corn； thus had I taken their cattle； they might have
disbelieved my sincerity。
They replied； that 〃it must be expected that little differences would
occur at the beginning。〃 They had been incited against us by the Baris
of Belinian； and the war was entirely their own fault。 At the same time
they laughed； and said that 〃hunger was a very bad thing； and that
hungry men would always fill their stomachs； if they could； therefore we
had been quite right to take their corn。〃 They declared that it did not
in the least matter； as the islands were very fertile； and would produce
another crop very quickly； in the mean time they had a good supply
concealed； and their loss only necessitated a little extra labour。
They continued this peaceable conversation by saying； that 〃the
elephants were seldom seen in this district； and that the Baris did not
understand such hunting； but they had heard the cannons； and they knew
that we should be able to kill them。〃 The meeting concluded by a request
for meat； and the sheiks having given instructions to certain
messengers； despatched them to summon their people to the sand…bank；
where the remains of the elephants were lying。
In a short time； swarms of natives； lately our enemies； were collecting
from all quarters； and hurrying towards the attractive spot； as though
they were going to a fair。
I gave the headmen ＇*＇ a present of beads； and took them to admire
themselves in the large glass within the cabin of the diahbeeah。 I
scrambled some pounds of beads among their people； and got up foot…races
for prizes。
＇*Footnote： The superior chief was presented with a costume which
delighted him。 This was a long blue shirt with red waist…band； a bright
tin funnel inverted to form a helmet with a feather in the tube； and a
pair of spectacles。 He declared that he would be 〃the admiration of the
women。〃＇
The natives selected some of their best runners； but although they ran
well； they were all beaten by Ali Nedjar of the 〃Forty Thieves；〃 who was
the champion runner of the expedition。
The sheiks requested that the cannon might be fired for their amusement。
A shot with blank cartridge made them look very serious。 They then went
to look at the two elephants' heads； which they believed had been blown
off by the cannon on the day of the hunt。
They returned to the diahbeeah； and ordered their people to bring the
present they had prepared for me。 This consisted of thirty…one jars of
merissa； each of which was duly tasted by themselves as a proof of the
absence of poison。
Before they departed； I was assured； not only of their regret that any
misunderstanding should have taken place； but that after their bean
crop； which would be in about two months； they would unite with Bedden
and carry all my baggage into the interior。 They took leave and went off
in the direction of the dead elephants。
Here was a sudden change in the politics of the country！ Peace had been
effected by the sacrifice of two elephants！
This peace was the result of greediness and envy。 The natives had pined
for the flesh； and envied the Baris of Bedden who were carrying it away；
therefore they sued for peace。
At the same time； they had originally declined my offer of a large herd
of cattle that would have been worth a hundred elephants。 Thus they had
courted war； in which they had lost some of their people； together with
much corn； all of which they might have sold for cows； and they now
desired peace； only to join in the scramble； like vultures； over the
flesh of two elephants。
African negroes are incomprehensible people； and they cannot be judged
by the ordinary rules of human nature。 It was easy to understand； that
if they desired peace upon so frivolous a pretext； they would plunge
into war with the same frivolitywith a 〃coeur leger。〃
As each division of the district quickly followed the example of another
in desiring peace； in like manner would they follow an evil example in
provoking hostilities。
They had now professed friendship for the sake of a few steaks。 They had
promised to carry our baggage into the interior。 If they would only be
true to this offer； I should be able to transport the steamer； as the
natives could easily drag the two…wheeled carts。 Although I doubted
their professions； I had some secret hopes of success； and I resolved to
do all in my power to establish confidence。 I therefore invited two very
intelligent natives to pay me a visit； and to reside some time at
Gondokoro； where they would witness the general management of the
station； and see the workshops； &c。 They would also see the vast herds
of cattle belonging to the government； the spoil of the Bari war。 This
would be a sight most interesting to the eyes of Baris； as it would be a
lesson of the great power of the government to either punish or reward。
In the afternoon I was visited by other native headmen from the east
side of the Nile。 These people had swum the river； and had followed the
example of the other natives to sue for peace； and to beg for elephant's
flesh。
This extraordinary craving for flesh would suggest that the Baris were
devoid of cattle。 On the contrary； there are countless herds throughout
the country； but the natives have a great objection to kill them； and
merely keep the cows for their milk； and the bullocks to bleed。
The cows are also bled periodically； and the blood is boiled and eaten；
much in the same manner that black pudding is used throughout Europe。 A
herd of cattle will thus provide animal food without the necessity of
slaughtering。
The great traveller； Bruce； was discredited for having described a fact
of which he was an eye…witness。 This was the vivisection of a cow；
driven by natives； who cut a steak out of her hind…quarters。
I had a bull with a very large hump。 （This bull was left at Fort
Fatiko。） This animal was very handsome； and was kept for stock。 I
observed that the skin of the hump showed a long jagged scar from end to
end； and my people assured me that this bull had frequently been
operated upon。 It had been the property of one of the slave…hunters'
parties； and they had been in the habit of removing the hump （as a
surgeon would a tumour）。 This is the most delicate portion of the meat；
and I was assured that the hump would always be replaced by a similar
growth after each operation。
On 18th November； I commenced the march homewards。 The natives were now
friendly throughout the route； and my men were strictly forbidden to
enter a village。 There was a great change in my officers and troops；
they had fallen into my ways and obeyed every order with alacrity。 They
had learned to place thorough reliance upon any plans that were
arranged； and； now that they knew the necessity of obedience and
discipline； they had； imperceptibly to themselves； changed from ruffians
into very orderly soldiers。
On the march homewards； upon arrival at the foot of a mountain； I made
an excursion inland； as this was a portion of the country that I had not
yet visited； though only six miles from Gondokoro。 The natives were very
shy； but I at length succeeded in obtaining an interview with their
sheik； a tall powerful fellow； named Meri。 I explained that I required
no corn； nor any supplies； except stone。 （This sheik Meri and his
people always remained faithful to the government from that day。）
The country abounded with pieces of gneiss with a very straight
cleavage； that suited them admirably for building purposes。 All the
granaries of this country were supported upon pillars formed of single
stones； about three feet long。 The houses were also protected by large
flat stones arranged like tiles around the base； and thus securing the
sides from the driven storms of rain。
On 19th November； I returned to Gondokoro highly satisfied with the
result of the campaign。 Not only were my magazines all filled with more
than twelve months' supply of corn； but I had established peace
throughout a large and powerful district； and I had received promises of
assistance； and an assurance of allegiance to the government。
Abou Saood； who had received permission to go to Khartoum； had only gone
down the river as far as his station at the Bohr。 There he had made
arrangements with his people that the ivory from Latooka station； 100
miles east of Gondokoro； should avoid my head…quarters； and be conveyed
by an oblique course to the Bohr。 By this swindle； the government would
be cheated out of the share of two…fifths of the ivory which belonged to
them by contract with Agad & Co。
Abou Saood having personally witnessed the departure of the troops to
Khartoum； considered his game as won； and that the expedition； now
reduced to only 502 officers and men； would be compelled to centralize
at Gondokoro； without the possibility of penetrating the interior。 He
had thus started for his stat