would be confined below the level of the country。
Sixty men were to guard the cattle at night； thirty upon either bank。 As
this ravine ran at right angles with the river； the sixty men would
enfilade an enemy attacking the vessels； and the guard of the vessels
would at the same time enfilade an enemy should he attack the cattle on
the north side。
I placed the gun in a convenient position about twenty yards from the
margin of the river； on a piece of hard； flat ground； exactly opposite
the centre of the line of vessels。 This would sweep the approach in
front and upon the left flank。
I ordered the officer to load with canister containing 250 small musket
balls。 Having served out a dozen Woolwich tubes； instead of the
uncertain Egyptian articles； I gave positive orders that the gun was to
be laid for a point…blank range of 200 yards every evening at sunset；
with the tube in its place； the lanyard attached and coiled。 A piece of
raw hide was to cover the breech of the gun to protect it from the night
dew。
Having given every instruction； and impressed upon officers and men the
necessity of vigilance； I ordered Major Abdullah； in command； to remain
in charge of the vessels and cattle until I should either send him
carriers for an advance； or fall back myself； should I be unable to
obtain them。
A tall old man of about seventy； or perhaps eighty years； had paid us a
visit。 From his appearance； and the numerous spells hung about his
person； I judged him to be a rain…maker。 His face was smeared with wood
ashes； and there was a good deal of the ideal demon in his personal
exterior。
I gave him a blue shirt； and a glass of Marsala wine； thus appealing at
once to his exterior and interior。
It is always advisable to make friends with the rain…makers； as they are
regarded by the natives as priests； and are considered with a certain
respect。 I therefore give him another glass of wine； or； to be correct；
he drank it from a tin that had contained preserved provisions。
This caused him to blink his eyes and smack his lips； and the old
rain…maker grinned a ghastly smile of admiration。 His wood ash…smeared
features relaxed into an expression that denoted 〃more wine。〃 I thought
he had enough； and there was none to spare； therefore； having opened his
heart； I began to ask him questions。
That unfailing key； liquor； had established a confidential flow of
conversation。 The old fellow explained that he knew the entire country；
and he had no objection to accompany us to Lobore for a small
consideration in the shape of a cow。 He assured me that if he were with
us； the natives would be civil throughout the journey。 Bedden had
behaved very badly； but he had got the worst of it； and the news had
spread up the country。
I asked him whether he would keep the rain away during the journey； as
it would be very unpleasant should the soldiers' kits get wet。 He
immediately blew his rain…whistle that was suspended to his neck； and
looked at me as though I could no longer doubt his capability。 I then
sent for a German horn from my cabin。 This was a polished cow's horn；
fitted with brass； which I think had cost a shilling。 I begged the old
rain…maker's acceptance of this instrument； which might be perhaps
superior to his whistle。
The wine had now so far warmed his old blood； that the ancient sorcerer
was just in that state of good…will with all mankind which made him
doubly grateful for so interesting a present。 He blew the horn！again；
and again！ He grinned till the tears ran down his eyes； and at once
suspended the glittering toy around his neck。 He now said； 〃I am a great
sheik； there is no rain…maker so great as I； you will travel with me；
and this horn shall keep you dry。 Don't trouble yourself about the
Baris； they won't molest you； but start as soon as you can。〃
We had thus gained a valuable ally and guide。 Although I knew the
direction of Lobore； I should have been obliged to travel by compass；
therefore I was overjoyed that we had obtained so experienced an old
fellow as the rain…maker。 His name was Lokko。
At 3 p。m。； on 8th February； we started； old Lokko leading the way； and
waving a couple of thin； peeled sticks at a refractory black cloud that
appeared determined to defy his rain…ruling powers。 A few loud blasts
upon the new horn； and a good deal of pantomime and gesticulation on the
part of old Lokko； at length had the desired effect； the cloud went off
about its business； and Lokko； having given his face an extra rub of
fresh wood…ashes before starting； looked ugly enough to frighten any
rain…devil out of his wits。
My people were heavily laden。 At the commencement of the journey； an ox
that Monsoor had been training； kicked off its load； and went off at
full gallop like a wild animal； and we never saw it again。 Poor Monsoor
now shouldered the load that the ox had left helpless； and marched thus
heavily laden up the hill。
My wife rode 〃Greedy Grey；〃 which carried as much as could be hung upon
the saddle。 I rode the powerful chestnut 〃Jamoos。〃 Lieutenant Baker
mounted a very handsome light chestnut 〃Gazelle；〃 and Colonel
Abd…el…Kader rode the Zafteer。 The latter was a fine old Arab that I had
purchased of a zafteer （mounted police） in Cairo。 I had ten donkeys
which carried officers' effects； spare ammunition； flour； &c。 The
twenty…two boatmen carried boxes。
My wife and I； with Lieutenant Baker and an advanced guard of five of
〃The Forty；〃 followed old Lokko； who led the way； and Colonel
Abd…el…Kader and Captain Mohammed Deii were with the rear…guard； which
drove 1；000 cows and 500 sheep。 The cattle were in the charge of the
Bari interpreter； Morgian。
Our boys and girls all carried loads。 Amarn looked like a small Robinson
Crusoe； with a tanned sheepskin bag of clothes upon his back； upon which
was slung the coffee…pot； an umbrella； and various smaller articles；
while he assisted himself with a long staff in his hand。 Little Cuckoo；
who； although hardly seven years old； was as strong as a little pony；
strode along behind my horse； carrying upon his head my small travelling
bag。
Everybody was in the best spirits； as the reaction from despair
to success was delightful。 We were really off at last； and were actually
on the march to the interior。
That evening we halted at a village on the heights； only three miles
from the vessels。 The natives had deserted their habitations on our
approach； and would not come near us。 I ordered the troops to save their
flour； and to eat from that discovered in the village； for which on the
following morning I left two cows as a present。 They were tied up in the
native zareeba。 The cows were worth at least fifty times the flour we
had consumed； but I wished to adopt this plan throughout the journey to
Lobore； in order to establish confidence； and to open up the road for
the future。
On 9th February we started at 5。35 a。m。； and marched two hours and a
half through a very beautiful undulating country； diversified with
rocks； streams； and handsome park…like timber。
We halted at a village called Koojok； beneath a large fig…tree （Ficus
Indica）。 Our old friend Lokko appeared to be perfectly well known； and
he at once introduced us to the natives； who received us without fear or
suspicion。 At this village I was able to hire five natives for as many
cows； to ease my people （especially Monsoor） of their loads。
Thus relieved； we started at 2 p。m。； and halted for the night at a
village named Gobbohr。 The day's march was twelve miles。 North latitude；
by observation； 4 degrees 28 minutes。
At this spot the natives brought us a great curiosity； which they had
purchased from the Baris of Belinian。 This was no less than a shell of 8
1/4 lbs。 that had been fired at the Baris by our cannon； but the fuze
had not ignited。 It had been sold to the natives of Gobbohr as a piece
of iron。
I inquired the use of such a lump of metal to them。 〃Oh！〃 they replied；
〃we are going to hammer it into molotes （hoes）。〃
I explained to them that it was a loaded shell； that would explode and
blow the blacksmith and his people to pieces； if he were to place it on
the fire。 They went away with their shell； evidently doubting my
explanation。
On the 10th February； having as usual presented the natives with two
cows； we started at 6 a。m。； and marched ten miles。 The country was even
more lovely than before； comprising fine rocky scenery and beautiful
park…like views。 The undulations terminated in stony bottoms or
water…courses； the rocks were all syenite； gneiss； and large masses of
snow…white quartz。
Although at this season the ground was parched； the trees were all
vividly green： the contrast of this bright green with the yellow turf
was very remarkable。
At 2。50 p。m。 we again started； and marched three miles； arriving at a
village on high ground called Marengo； in N。 lat。 4 degrees 18 minutes。
Here I met an old acquaintance； who； of course； asked me for a cow。 This
was a very respectable man； named Nersho； who had； when a boy； been
brought up by the Austrian missionaries at Gondokoro。 I had met him
during my former journey when in company with Koorshood's vakeel；
Ibrahim。 We slept at Marengo。 The soldiers borrowed the natives' mats；
cooking pots； &c。； but scrupulously returned everything according to
orders。
February 11。 Nersho received his cow； and I left two in addition for
the headman of the village。
We started at 5。35 a。m。； and marched ten miles； and halted at a small
ravine of running water among wooded hills。
Our old guide； Lokko； was at fault。 After much trouble we succeeded in
obtaining two natives； who told us； that in this spot they had killed a
large number of the slave…hunters' people。
Other natives soon joined us； and we were led by a difficult rocky path
through thick forest among the hills for five miles； to the pretty open
country of Mooge。
Throughout the journey from the Nile； the country had been thickly
populated。 At Mooge we camped in a large village on the hill。
February 12。 We started at 5。25； and marched straight to Lobore； a
distance of fourteen miles。 The road was through forest； intersected at
right…angles with deep watercourses from the mount