distance of fourteen miles。 The road was through forest； intersected at
right…angles with deep watercourses from the mountain； called Forke；
about a mile distant upon our left。 This fine； rocky； and almost
perpendicular hill is 2；000 feet high。
On arrival at Lobore we halted beneath a large tree； and waited for the
cattle； which were some distance in the rear； owing to the difficulty in
crossing the numerous steep ravines。 Some work would be necessary on
this road to render it possible for carts。
We had thus marched fifty…seven miles from our vessels without the
necessity of firing a shot； although we were accompanied by so tempting
a prize as a large herd of cattle and sheep。
The natives of Lobore soon began to collect； and the dragoman； Wani；
shortly appeared； who proved to be an old acquaintance in my former
journey。 This man； who had been an interpreter when a boy among the
traders； spoke good Arabic； and we soon felt quite at home。 Abbio； the
old sheik of Lobore appeared。 This old fellow was half…blind； but he
seemed very willing to assist； and； after I had explained the object of
my visit； he assured me that his people would go to the vessels if
accompanied by my soldiers； and that I need not be uneasy about my
baggage。
The Lobore are not Bari。 I was delighted to have passed the southern
frontier at Mooge； and to have quitted that incomprehensible tribe。 The
language of the Lobore is a dialect of the Madi。
In the evening； the cattle arrived with the rear…guard。 I had requested
the old sheik to have a zareeba prepare； for them； this was quickly
accomplished； therefore an ox was slaughtered as a reward for all those
who had worked at the inclosure。
On 13th February 〃we held a regular market for the purchase of flour in
exchange for sheep and goats。 Many of these useful little animals were
sickly； owing to the marches in the hot sun； which had created intense
thirst。 Upon arrival at streams upon the route； they had drunk too
greedily； and some had died of inflammation。
〃The natives purchased live goats at the rate of about 30 lbs。 of flour。
This was an equal exchange in live weight of the animal； a pound of
flour for a pound of goat。
〃February 14。The whole country turned out to hunt； and the natives
returned in the evening； having only killed two buffaloes and a few
small antelopes。 Even the small boys are armed in this country with bows
and barbed arrows； with which they shoot remarkably well。
〃February 15。The old sheik； Abbio； accompanied by Wani； appeared
early； together with a considerable number of natives。 They selected 396
cows from my zareeba； and a similar number of men promised to start
to…morrow with fifty soldiers to convoy the material from the vessels。
〃February 16。After some delay the natives assembled； and with horns
blowing and much shouting and whistling； they at length started；
together with our return sailors； and an escort of fifty soldiers。
〃I shall thus； after much care and anxiety； be able to push on with a
quantity of goods sufficient to open the path and to establish relations
with the equatorial countries。 I shall have 212 troops and a good supply
of ammunition； goods； and cattle： thus there should be no insurmountable
difficulty。
〃I wrote to Mr。 Higginbotham； also to Mr。 Marcopolo； and sent the
letters inclosed in a bottle。
〃February 17。 A slight shower fell this morning。 The sheik of Mooge
arrived to see me last evening； and presented a fat goat。
〃I am trying to persuade him and old Abbio to join in cutting the
cart…road through the forest from Mooge。 I gave Abbio a mixture of
sulphate of zinc for his eyes； and put a mustard plaster on Wani the
interpreter's stomach。 At first he said it was of no use； as it only
felt like cold water； but when it began to burn； he was greatly amazed；
and said the cold water had turned to fire。
〃I then physicked Colonel Abd…el…Kader and Monsoor； both of whom were
overheated。
〃A judicious present of a few blue shirts to certain headmen put every
one in good humour。
〃February 18。I took a stroll for some miles in the forest accompanied
by Lieutenant Baker。 Game was very scarce； but we at length came upon a
fine herd of tetel （Antelope Babalis）。 These having been disturbed by
the noise we had made in walking over loose stony ground； dashed through
the open forest； about 120 paces in my front。 I shot one through the
shoulder； and upon running up I found it in the act of falling。
〃I then heard a shot from Lieutenant Baker on my left； to whom my shot
had turned the antelopes。 He had killed a very large bull by a good shot
in the neck。
〃This luck was a windfall for the Lobore natives who had accompanied us；
and a man immediately started off for assistance； as many men were
required to transport the flesh and hides of such large animals。
〃February 19。…The natives begged that we would accompany them to hunt；
and they started with a considerable party。
〃Having formed a long line like skirmishers； with intervals of about ten
yards between each； they advanced with their bows prepared； and the
arrows on the string； ready for a shot on the instant should game start
on foot。 There were many boys of about twelve years old； all of whom
were armed with bows and arrows； and they advanced in the same line with
the men。 There were too many people； and the game became scared； so that
after a long walk； we returned to camp without having fired a shot。
〃I found some very curious flowers； which issued from the ground in
pods； without leaves； these burst and threw out beautiful compact silk
balls in great numbers； not half of which could be returned to the pod
that had scattered them。
〃On 22nd February we had purchased and stored； in expectation of the
arrival of the troops； 3；740 lbs。 of flour。
〃I was determined to carry a large supply to the south； as the country
had in some places been depopulated by the slave…hunters。
〃February 23。I went out with Lieutenant Baker； accompanied by some
natives； and travelled over very likely ground； composed of forest；
glades； ravines full of bamboos； &c。； until we reached the base of Gebel
Forke。
〃We had passed over several miles and had only seen a few small
antelopes； when upon ascending some rising ground in the very open
forest； we caught sight of a herd of tetel bounding along through some
high grass towards some low； rocky hills； a few hundred yards distant。
There were many large trees growing out of the clefts of the rocks； and
I proposed that Lieutenant Baker should go round the hill on my right；
while I should creep quietly over the summit of the rocks； as I expected
we should find the antelopes standing in some sheltered glade。
〃When I arrived at the base of the small hill； which was not higher than
seventy or eighty feet； and was composed of large masses of granite； I
carefully ascended； without making the slightest noise。
〃On arrival at the denuded summit； I was well concealed by a detached
block of granite that lay upon a flat weather…worn surface of the same
rock。
〃I raised my head； and looked in vain for the antelopes。 The ground was
a beautiful park； characterized by numerous masses of granite； like
ruined castles； among trees of all shades of green。 The ground was
covered with young grass about six inches high； which had sprung up
after the annual fire that had destroyed the last year's dry herbage。
〃I could see no game。 Presently I observed the native； who was a few
yards on my left； making eager gestures； and pointing with his finder in
order to direct my attention。 I at once perceived a family of wild pigs
which had emerged from some bush； and were quietly feeding along the
glade； so that they would shortly pass in front of me within sixty
yards。
〃The natives love pork beyond all other flesh； thus I had a good
opportunity for showing them a little treat。 With a quick right and left
shot I knocked over two pigs； and reloading the 〃Dutchman〃 in a few
instants； I rolled over a boar that had galloped off to about 120 yards'
distance。 This animal recovered itself and got away to some place of
cover。
〃Upon the arrival of Lieutenant Baker and the natives； we tracked the
blood for about 300 yards to a small plot of high grass that had escaped
the fire。 I knew that we must find the wounded boar in this retreat。 I
therefore ordered the natives to beat it out。 The boar soon broke cover
and galloped off along the open； but quickly rolled over as a shot from
the 〃Dutchman〃 struck it behind the shoulder。 The natives were delighted
with the success of the rifle； as it had produced three fine pigs for
their service within a few minutes。〃
〃February 24。 The whole of the troops and baggage from the vessels
arrived safely to…day； together with the cattle and sheep； thus all my
arrangements have； thank God； speeded； and I am now in possession of my
force and material。〃
Major Abdullah delivered his report。 As I had expected； he had been
attacked in great force by the natives after my departure。 The Baris； as
usual； had employed treachery； which had very nearly succeeded。
A day or two after I had left the vessels； several natives had desired
to communicate with Major Abdullah。 These men declared that they had
nothing to do with Bedden； and that all the Baris of the east side of
the Nile desired peace。
It would have been natural to suppose that after so recent an example of
treachery on the part of Bedden； Major Abdullah would have been keenly
suspicious； he was nevertheless deceived by the specious promises of the
wily Baris。 This officer knew my wish for peace and good…will； and he
trusted to be able to assure me； that after my departure he had been
able to establish amicable relations with our late enemies。
The messengers returned to their villages； and natives visited the camp
with fowls； tobacco； and various articles for sale。 The soldiers were
ready purchasers； as they were well supplied with beads； zinc mirrors；
and various trifles which they had recently obtained from the government
magazines。 The fault of my men lay in their extravagance； and they
usually spoiled a market by offering too much。 The trade commenced
vigorously； and the no