at Gondokoro； without the possibility of penetrating the interior。 He
had thus started for his stations in the distant south； where he
intended to incite the natives against the government； to prevent me
from following out my plans with the small force at my disposal。
This was the first time in the career of Abou Saood that he had ever
travelled inland。 He had for many years been in the habit of arriving at
Gondokoro from Khartoum with the annual vessels from Agad & Co。；
bringing new levies of brigands together with fresh supplies of arms and
ammunition。 He then remained at Gondokoro for several weeks； and
received the ivory and slaves collected from his various stations in the
interior with which he returned to Khartoum。
The necessity of the occasion induced him to use much personal activity。
Knowing well the date when my term of service would expire； he had only
one object； in which he had already nearly succeeded；this was to
prevent the possibility of my advance within the given period。
It was therefore necessary for him to visit his stations； and to warn
his people to hold both their slaves and ivory until I should be
withdrawn from Gondokoro by the expiration of my term of service； after
which； he had no doubt that things would quickly return to their former
happy state。 By these means he would be able to cheat the government out
of the two…fifths of all ivory； he would preserve his slaves； and a
judicious present to some high official would reinstate him in his
original position as the greatest slave…hunter of the White Nile； with
the additional kuilos of having battled the Christian Pacha。
I had already written to assure the Khedive that； should my work not be
satisfactorily accomplished at the expiration of my term of service； I
should continue at my post until I could honourably resign the command；
when the government should be firmly established in the interior。
I now devoted every energy to the preparations for starting； together
with the English engineers and the steamer。 Having given the necessary
instructions to the engineer in chief； Mr。 Higginbotham； I had no
anxiety； as I felt sure that everything would be in order。
The carts were to be thoroughly examined； and the No。 3 steamer of 38
tons was to be divided in parcels； the small work secured in loads of
fifty pounds； each sewn up in raw hide； and the heavier portions divided
among the carts。
The officers were now perfectly resigned to their lot。 The remnant of
the Egyptian force had been converted into artillery…men； and all the
Soudanis formed one regiment。
While Mr。 Higginbotham was engaged in the work of arranging and packing；
my masons were busy in making bricks； as I wished eventually to build
the barracks of this solid material； instead of trusting to the
dangerously inflammable straw…huts。 I had already written to England for
sufficient galvanized iron for 3；000 feet of building in actual length。
Although galvanized iron is hot in a tropical climate； it can easily be
protected from the sun by a light framework of canes slightly thatched。
My Soudanis were never overpowered by heat； as they had been born in a
high temperature。
On my return to Gondokoro； I found that Meri's natives had collected a
large quantity of stones； and they had sent to request a vessel to
transport them。 I gave them a cow； and they had a general dance。 This
reception seemed to delight them； and they returned to their villages；
accompanied by a noggur with an officer and twenty men。 I gave strict
orders that no soldier should enter a native hut under any pretext。
The Bari war was over。 Upon every side the natives had been thoroughly
subdued。 I now heard from our Bari interpreters； Sherroom and Morgian；
that the Sheik Allorron was willing to sue for peace； and to declare his
allegiance to the government。
Abou Saood and his people had departed； thus the evil spirit was
withdrawn that had hitherto covertly incited the natives against the
government； and the effect of his absence was immediately apparent。
I devoted my attention to the final preparations for the start； and to
the necessary instructions for the command of the station during my
absence。 The officers found that it was now impossible to resist their
destiny； and Raoul Bey； the colonel； who had； against orders； sent off
so many troops to Khartoum who were in good health； now discovered that
he would be left with a comparatively small force to hold the important
position at head…quarters。
The troops who had been employed under my personal command； were very
anxious to accompany me into the equatorial district。
There was no more fighting。 All my hopes of peace were at length
realized。 The nights were always undisturbed； and the sentries might
have indulged in sleep without the slightest danger。 A dead calm had
succeeded to the excitement of constant watchfulness。
I now employed the 〃Forty Thieves〃 in making salt。 There were peculiar
surface mines within a mile of my little station。 These were situated
upon a sandy loam on the banks of a brackish lake； that swarmed with
crocodiles。
The salt always showed upon the surface after a shower of rain had been
evaporated by the sun。 This efflorescence； together with sand and other
impurities； was scraped from the earth with large mussel shells。 It was
then placed in earthen…ware vessels containing about five gallons。 There
were pierced with holes in the bottom； which were covered with a wisp of
straw as a strainer。 The jars； being full of salt and sand； were watered
occasionally； and the brine accordingly filtered through to a receiver。
The contents were boiled； and produced the finest chloride of sodium。
The natural productions of the neighbourhood were salt； iron； tamarinds；
the oil…nut tree； and the cultivation of the natives was principally
Hibiscus hemp； tobacco； varieties of beans； sesame； dhurra； and dochan
（millet）。 I endeavoured to persuade the Baris to cultivate and prepare
large quantities of the Hibiscus hemp； which would be extremely valuable
in the Soudan。 The Baris used it for nets and fishing…lines。
The tamarinds were of two varieties； and were produced in extraordinary
quantities。 About two miles from head…quarters； there was an extensive
portion of the forest composed almost exclusively of these magnificent
trees。
The forest was also rich in the tree known by the Arabs as 〃heglik〃 This
bears a fruit about the size of a date （lalobe）； which is a combination
of sweet； bitter； and highly aromatic。 My men collected several
hundredweight； as I wished to try an experiment in distilling。 There was
an excellent copper still in the magazine； and I succeeded in producing
a delicious spirit somewhat resembling kirschenwasser。
My cotton was now ripe； and I cleaned it with a small hand gin that
could be worked by two men。 This greatly interested the Bari visitors；
who； by my special invitation； had been residing for some time at
Gondokoro。
The dry season had been very unfavourable for cotton； nevertheless； the
quality was good； and proved that it would thrive in the locality。 The
species that was indigenous grew to a great size； and seemed to defy the
drought。 This bore a red blossom； and the pod was small。 The native
cotton was of short staple； and adhered strongly to the seed。
On 29th November； two Arabs arrived from Abou Saood's Latooka station；
100 miles east of Gondokoro： they had travelled at night； and were
deserters from the vakeel。 One of these fellows turned out to be my old
follower during my former journey； Mohammed the camel…driver； and he
literally cried with joy when he saw my wife and me again。 He gave me
all the news from the slave…traders' camp； which was full of slaves； and
they were afraid that I might arrive； as they were aware that I knew the
road。 The vakeel of Latooka had received and harboured two of my
Egyptian soldiers； who had deserted from Gondokoro and joined the
slave…hunters under the guidance of a Bari。
On 1st December； Lieutenant Baker shot a fine bull elephant； with very
large tusks； this was within four miles of head…quarters。 At this
season they were very numerous in the neighbourhood of Gondokoro。 During
my absence to the south of Regiaf； there had been a curious nocturnal
alarm in the station。
Upon a fine moonlight night the sentries were astonished by the
appearance of two immense bull elephants； that； having marched along the
cliff； took the fort in the rear on the river side。
The fort was a redan； open at the river base； thus； unheeding the
sentry； the elephants coolly walked into the centre。 The sentry's musket
was immediately responded to by the guard； the buglers； startled by a
sharp fire of musketry； blew the alarm。
The elephants； now alarmed in their turn； rushed onwards； but upon
ascending the earthwork； they were met by a deep yawning ditch； which
they could not cross。 The whole force turned out； and the attack on the
thick…skinned intruders became general。 The bullets flew so wildly that
it was more dangerous for bystanders than for the elephants。
In the mean while； the panic…stricken animals charged wildly in all
directions； but were invariably stopped by the ditch and rampart； until
at last they happened to find the right direction； and retreated by
their original entrance； most probably not much the worse for the
adventure。
Mr。 Higginbotham； who gave me this account； described the excitement of
the troops as so intense； that they let their muskets off completely at
random： and so thick were the bullets in his direction； that he was
obliged to take shelter behind a white…ant hill。
I had no time to devote to elephant…shooting； otherwise I might have
killed a considerable number in the neighbourhood of Gondokoro。 The
Baris are not good hunters； and they merely catch the elephants in
pitfalls； therefore； being free from attack； these animals are
exceedingly daring； and easy to approach。
They are generally attracted by the ripe lalobes； the fruit already
described of the heglik （Balanites Egyptiaca）。 The trees； if of medium
size； are frequently torn down for the sake of this small production；
that would appear too insignificant for the n