consideration£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡determined¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not¡¡listen¡¡to
him£»¡¡or¡¡be¡¡persuaded¡¡to¡¡anything¡¡they¡¡disliked¡£¡¡They¡¡never¡¡had¡¡carried£»
and¡¡they¡¡never¡¡would¡£¡¨
I¡¡had¡¡the¡¡two¡¡natives¡¡with¡¡me¡¡who¡¡had¡¡resided¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡in¡¡our
station¡¡at¡¡Gondokoro¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡named¡¡Pittia£»¡¡endeavoured¡¡to
persuade¡¡Bedden¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡his¡¡nogara¡¡£¨big¡¡drum£©¡¡and¡¡to¡¡summon¡¡his¡¡tribe£»
he¡¡might¡¡then£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡presence£»¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡work¡¡proposed£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡people
would¡¡see¡¡the¡¡cows¡¡which¡¡they¡¡would¡¡receive¡¡as¡¡payment¡¡for¡¡their¡¡labour¡£
Bedden¡¡looked¡¡very¡¡ill¡¡at¡¡his¡¡ease£»¡¡but¡¡after¡¡some¡¡delay£»¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡from
his¡¡seat£»¡¡and¡¡declared¡¡his¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡immediately¡¡beating¡¡his¡¡nogara¡£
He¡¡took¡¡leave¡¡and¡¡departed¡¡with¡¡his¡¡people¡£
From¡¡my¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡Baris£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡never¡¡see¡¡Bedden
again¡£
He¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡left¡¡the¡¡tent£»¡¡when¡¡Pittia¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡follow¡¡him
and¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡what¡¡he¡¡says¡¡to¡¡his¡¡people¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡he¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡them
NOT¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡loads¡£¡¨¡¡Pittia¡¡immediately¡¡disappeared¡£
Many¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡collected¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡where¡¡my
vessels¡¡had¡¡now¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡line¡¡alone¡¡the¡¡bank£»¡¡I¡¡therefore¡¡crossed¡¡over
in¡¡the¡¡dingy¡¡to¡¡converse¡¡with¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡securing
carriers¡£
The¡¡natives¡¡were¡¡squatting¡¡about¡¡in¡¡small¡¡groups£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡listened
coldly¡¡to¡¡all¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡answer¡¡I¡¡could¡¡obtain¡¡was£»¡¡¡¨that
they¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡Bedden£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡told¡¡them¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡our¡¡things£»¡¡they
would¡¡obey£»¡¡but¡¡without¡¡his¡¡order¡¡they¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡£¡¨
This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡regular¡¡African¡¡diplomacy¡¡when¡¡work¡¡is¡¡required¡£¡¡The¡¡people
say£»¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡receive¡¡orders¡¡from¡¡our¡¡sheik¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡sheik¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡am
willing£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡people¡¡will¡¡not¡¡obey¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡is¡¡this¡¡passive¡¡resistance
that¡¡may¡¡ruin¡¡an¡¡expedition¡£
My¡¡first¡¡exploration¡¡in¡¡Africa¡¡must¡¡necessarily¡¡have¡¡failed¡¡had¡¡I¡¡not
been¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡transport¡¡animals¡£¡¡The¡¡readers¡¡of¡¡¡¨The¡¡Albert
N'yanza¡¨¡¡may¡¡remember¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡obtain¡¡a¡¡single¡¡native£»¡¡and¡¡that
I¡¡started¡¡from¡¡Gondokoro¡¡by¡¡moonlight¡¡without¡¡even¡¡an¡¡interpreter¡¡or
guide¡£
The¡¡horrible¡¡state¡¡of¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Nile¡¡had¡¡prevented¡¡all¡¡possibility¡¡of
conveying¡¡camels¡¡from¡¡Khartoum¡£¡¡My¡¡carts¡¡and¡¡camel¡¡harness¡¡were
prepared£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡invaluable¡¡animals¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡transported¡£¡¡I¡¡was
thus¡¡dependent¡¡upon¡¡such¡¡rotten¡¡reeds¡¡as¡¡native¡¡promises¡£
No¡¡one¡¡who¡¡is¡¡inexperienced¡¡in¡¡African¡¡travel¡¡can¡¡realize¡¡the¡¡hopeless
position¡¡of¡¡being¡¡left¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡material¡¡without¡¡any¡¡possibility
of¡¡transporting¡¡it¡£
The¡¡traveller¡¡may¡¡sit¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡box¡¡until¡¡he¡¡stiffens¡¡into¡¡a¡¡monument¡¡of
patience¡¡and¡¡despair£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡box¡¡will¡¡not¡¡move¡¡without¡¡a¡¡carrier¡£¡¡There
is¡¡only¡¡one¡¡method¡¡of¡¡travelling¡¡successfully£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡necessitates¡¡the
introduction¡¡of¡¡transport¡¡animals£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡baggage¡¡is¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡upon
an¡¡extensive¡¡scale¡£
I¡¡felt¡¡perfectly¡¡helpless¡£¡¡My¡¡colonel£»¡¡Abd¡el¡Kader£»¡¡advised¡¡me¡¡to¡¡seize
the¡¡sheik£»¡¡Bedden£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡tie¡¡him¡¡up¡¡until¡¡his¡¡people¡¡should¡¡have
delivered¡¡all¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡at¡¡Lobore¡£
This¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡done£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡might¡¡also¡¡have¡¡occasioned¡¡war£»¡¡which
would¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡securing¡¡carriers¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡also¡¡incur
the¡¡responsibility¡¡of¡¡having¡¡provoked¡¡the¡¡war¡¡by¡¡an¡¡act¡¡which£»¡¡although
necessary£»¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡be¡¡justified¡¡according¡¡to¡¡civilized¡¡ideas¡£
I¡¡had¡¡very¡¡little¡¡hope£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡so¡¡frequently¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡ray¡¡of
good¡¡fortune¡¡when¡¡all¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡cloudy£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡at
night¡¡trusting¡¡that¡¡something¡¡might¡¡turn¡¡up¡¡in¡¡our¡¡favour¡¡to¡morrow¡£
On¡¡29th¡¡January£»¡¡1872£»¡¡Pittia¡¡returned¡¡with¡¡bad¡¡news¡£¡¡Bedden¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡me
a¡¡laconic¡¡message¡¡that¡¡¡¨he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡call¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡his¡¡people
declined¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡baggage¡£¡¨
Pittia¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡all¡¡left¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood
together¡¡with¡¡their¡¡sheik£»¡¡therefore¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡well¡¡not¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡the
soldiers¡¡to¡¡stray¡¡far¡¡from¡¡camp¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡gross¡¡ingratitude¡¡exhibited¡¡by¡¡Bedden¡¡and¡¡his¡¡people¡£¡¡Not
only¡¡had¡¡I¡¡scrupulously¡¡respected¡¡all¡¡their¡¡property£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡even
placed¡¡sentries¡¡over¡¡their¡¡tobacco¡¡gardens¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of
theft¡£
The¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡women¡¡and¡¡children¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡sign¡¡of
ill¡will¡£
It¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡what¡¡should¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡perfectly
helpless¡£
I¡¡had¡¡about¡¡2£»500¡¡head¡¡of¡¡cattle¡¡and¡¡1£»800¡¡sheep¡£¡¡These¡¡animals¡¡were
driven¡¡every¡¡evening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡margin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡only¡¡protected
at¡¡night¡¡by¡¡a¡¡line¡¡of¡¡soldiers¡¡who¡¡slept¡¡around¡¡them¡£
The¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡filled¡¡me¡¡with¡¡suspicions¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡so
large¡¡a¡¡herd¡¡without¡¡protection¡¡might¡¡have¡¡excited¡¡their¡¡cupidity¡£¡¡They
had¡¡expected¡¡my¡¡arrival¡¡with¡¡this¡¡grand¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡cattle£»¡¡and¡¡instead¡¡of
finding¡¡their¡¡villages¡¡occupied£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡their¡¡own¡¡herds¡¡had
been¡¡driven¡¡off¡¡for¡¡concealment£»¡¡not¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡or¡¡child¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡in
the¡¡country£»¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡carry£»¡¡and£»¡¡lastly£»¡¡their¡¡sheik
and¡¡his¡¡people¡¡had¡¡absolutely¡¡absconded¡£
In¡¡the¡¡mean¡¡time¡¡my¡¡cattle¡¡were¡¡unprotected¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡thus£»¡¡should¡¡the
natives¡¡make¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡attack¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡regular
stampede£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡large¡¡herd¡¡would¡¡be¡¡seized¡¡with¡¡a¡¡panic¡¡at¡¡the¡¡red
flashes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡muskets¡¡during¡¡the¡¡attack£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡would¡¡scatter¡¡all
over¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡again¡£
The¡¡natives¡¡had¡¡probably¡¡considered¡¡that£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡carrying¡¡our¡¡loads£»
and¡¡thereby¡¡earning¡¡a¡¡cow¡¡per¡¡man£»¡¡it¡¡might¡¡save¡¡them¡¡much¡¡trouble
should¡¡they¡¡possess¡¡themselves¡¡of¡¡our¡¡cattle¡¡without¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡of
carrying¡¡the¡¡baggage¡£
From¡¡my¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brutal¡¡character¡¡of¡¡all¡¡Baris£»¡¡I¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the
above¡¡conclusion¡£
I¡¡at¡¡once¡¡gave¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡the¡¡cattle¡£¡¡At¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡about¡¡half
a¡¡mile£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡three¡¡small¡¡villages¡¡on¡¡the¡¡high¡¡sloping¡¡ground£»
situated¡¡about¡¡eighty¡¡yards¡¡apart£»¡¡and¡¡forming¡¡a¡¡triangle¡£¡¡I¡¡instructed
my¡¡men¡¡to¡¡make¡¡an¡¡inclosure£»¡¡by¡¡connecting¡¡each¡¡village¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strong
hedge¡¡of¡¡thorns¡£
The¡¡country¡¡was¡¡generally¡¡bare¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡but¡¡fortunately¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a
grove¡¡of¡¡heglik¡¡not¡¡far¡¡distant£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡troops¡¡at¡¡once¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fell
these¡¡trees£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡form¡¡fences¡¡by¡¡laying¡¡the¡¡prickly¡¡branches¡¡in¡¡the
position¡¡I¡¡had¡¡selected¡£
The¡¡¡¨Forty¡¡Thieves¡¨¡¡were¡¡all¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡small¡¡and¡¡sharp¡¡Canada¡¡axes£»
which¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡under¡¡the¡¡strap¡¡of¡¡their¡¡knapsacks£»¡¡thus¡¡forty¡eight
axes¡¡were¡¡at¡¡work£»¡¡in¡¡addition¡¡to¡¡the¡¡heavier¡¡instruments¡¡belonging¡¡to
the¡¡expedition¡£
All¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡and¡¡men¡¡shared¡¡my¡¡suspicions£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡worked¡¡with
great¡¡alacrity¡£
It¡¡was¡¡just¡¡dark¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡three¡¡fences¡¡were¡¡completed£»¡¡and
the¡¡herd¡¡of¡¡cattle¡¡were¡¡driven¡¡and¡¡secured¡¡within¡¡the¡¡inclosure¡£
I¡¡arranged¡¡a¡¡guard¡¡of¡¡sixty¡¡men£º¡¡twenty¡¡upon¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡triangle¡£
They¡¡were¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡fence£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡vigilant¡¡look¡out¡£
This¡¡work¡¡being¡¡over£»¡¡I¡¡returned¡¡at¡¡night¡¡to¡¡the¡¡diahbeeah¡¡together¡¡with
Lieutenant¡¡Baker¡£¡¡We¡¡found¡¡dinner¡¡ready¡¡on¡¡the¡¡poop¡deck£»¡¡where¡¡my¡¡wife
had¡¡been¡¡rather¡¡anxiously¡¡expecting¡¡us¡£¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡Colonel¡¡Abd¡el¡Kader£»
and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡orders¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night¡£
My¡¡diahbeeah¡¡was¡¡a¡¡charming¡¡vessel£»¡¡that¡¡had¡¡originally¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡from
Cairo¡¡to¡¡Khartoum£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡former¡¡Viceroy¡¡of¡¡Egypt£»¡¡Said¡¡Pacha£»¡¡visited
the¡¡Soudan¡£
The¡¡poop¡deck¡¡was¡¡lofty¡¡and¡¡very¡¡spacious¡£¡¡This¡¡comfortable¡¡boat¡¡had
been¡¡my¡¡home¡¡for¡¡two¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡was¡¡kept¡¡in¡¡admirable¡¡order¡£
There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡mosquitoes¡¡during¡¡this¡¡season¡¡in¡¡Bedden's¡¡country£»
although¡¡they¡¡were¡¡very¡¡numerous¡¡at¡¡all¡¡seasons¡¡at¡¡Gondokoro£»¡¡therefore£»
being¡¡relieved¡¡from¡¡these¡¡pests£»¡¡the¡¡enjoyment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡was
delightful¡£
The¡¡night¡¡was¡¡calm£»¡¡as¡¡usual¡¡in¡¡these¡¡latitudes¡£¡¡Dinner¡¡was¡¡concluded¡£¡¡I
was¡¡enjoying¡¡my¡¡evening¡¡chibouque¡¡with¡¡the¡¡best¡¡Ghebbelli¡¡tobacco£»¡¡that
soothes¡¡many¡¡anxieties¡£¡¡The¡¡troops¡¡were¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡asleep£»¡¡and
all¡¡was¡¡quiet¡£¡¡My¡¡wife¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sofa¡¡or¡¡divan£»¡¡and¡¡Lieutenant
Baker¡¡had¡¡been¡¡recalling¡¡some¡¡reminiscence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡navy£»¡¡when¡¡several
musket¡¡shots¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡kraal¡¡suddenly¡¡startled
every¡¡soldier¡¡from¡¡his¡¡sleep¡£
The¡¡shots¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡immediately¡¡succeeded¡¡by¡¡heavy¡¡firing¡¡from¡¡the
whole¡¡force¡¡stationed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cattle¡¡zareeba¡£¡¡The¡¡bugles¡¡sounded¡¡the
alarm£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡man¡¡was¡¡quickly¡¡under¡¡arms¡£
Having¡¡arranged¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡position¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡the¡¡vessels¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡a
general¡¡attack£»¡¡I¡¡took¡¡twenty¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Forty¡¡Thieves£»¡¨¡¡together¡¡with
a¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡rockets¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡accompanied¡¡by¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Baker¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of
the¡¡Englishmen£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡pushed¡¡rapidly¡¡forward¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡cattle
zareeba£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡flashes¡¡of¡¡muskets¡¡were¡¡distinctly¡¡visible¡£
As¡¡we¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡position£»¡¡I¡¡ordered¡¡my¡¡bugler¡¡to¡¡sound¡¡¡¨cease
firing£»¡¨¡¡as¡¡I¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡a¡¡few¡¡bullets¡¡intended¡¡for¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£
We¡¡were¡¡quickly¡¡challenged¡¡upon¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡the¡¡zareeba¡£¡¡We¡¡found¡¡the
cattle¡¡all¡¡safe£»¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡sheep¡¡had¡¡been¡¡killed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡attempt
at¡¡a¡¡stampede¡¡when¡¡the¡¡cows¡¡took¡¡fright¡¡at¡¡the¡¡musketry¡£
I¡¡was¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡natives¡¡in¡¡considerable¡¡force¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡sudden
rush¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡zareeba£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡showers¡¡of¡¡stones¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to
create¡¡a¡¡panic¡¡among¡¡the¡¡cattle£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡expected¡¡would¡¡break¡¡through
the¡¡fence¡¡and¡¡scatter¡¡over¡¡the¡¡country¡£
It¡¡was¡¡fortunate¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡precaution¡¡of¡¡securing¡¡them¡£
I¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡clear¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡before¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡should¡¡be
renewed¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡was¡¡dark¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡provided¡¡with¡¡matches¡¡and¡¡port¡fires£»
and¡¡I¡¡quickly¡¡made¡¡an¡¡excursion¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡several¡¡rockets¡¡into¡¡the
nearest¡¡villages¡£¡¡The¡¡Hale's¡¡rockets£»¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡rushed¡¡through¡¡the
houses¡¡without¡¡igniting¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡powerful¡¡Egyptian¡¡rockets
that¡¡are¡¡used¡¡as¡¡fireworks£»¡¡rapidly¡¡lighted¡¡up¡¡the¡¡scene£»¡¡as¡¡the
descending¡¡fire¡balls¡¡ignited¡¡the¡¡thatched¡¡roofs¡£
These¡¡rockets¡¡were¡¡fired¡¡from¡¡an¡¡inclined¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡a¡¡soldier's¡¡fixed
bayonet¡£
Having¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡I¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡diahbeeah¡¡at
midnight¡£
I¡¡find¡¡this¡¡entry¡¡in¡¡my¡¡journal£º¡
¡¨January¡¡29£»¡¡1872¡£¡All¡¡the¡¡googoos¡¡or¡¡granaries¡¡abound¡¡with¡¡corn¡£¡¡The
natives¡¡are¡¡so¡¡rich£»¡¡both¡¡in¡¡dhurra¡¡and¡¡cattle£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡not¡¡work£»
but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡only¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡or¡¡steal¡£¡¡After¡¡all¡¡my¡¡kindness£»¡¡they
have¡¡wantonly¡¡attacked¡¡my¡¡cattle¡¡without¡¡the¡¡plea¡¡either¡¡of¡¡hunger¡¡or
provocation¡£
¡¨What¡¡can¡¡be¡¡accomplished¡¡with¡¡such¡¡people£¿¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡return
the¡¡steamer¡¡to¡¡Ismailia¡¡£¨Gondokoro£©¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡heartbreaking¡¡work¡¡after¡¡all
my¡¡trouble¡¡in¡¡having¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡t