usually spoiled a market by offering too much。 The trade commenced
vigorously； and the now peaceable Baris thronged to the vessels； and
mixed freely with the officers and troops。
On the night of February 17； 1872； the troops were fast asleep。
Confidence had been thoroughly established； and there was no
apprehension of coming danger。 My officers and men were careless of
precautions； the sentries were nearly all asleep。 The cannon had been
loaded with shell instead of canister。 The Woolwich tubes had been put
away so safely that they could not be found when wanted。 The gun had not
been sighted for close distance； neither had any of my most positive
instructions been carried out。 The artillerymen were sound asleep upon
their mats around their neglected gun。
I have already described the tactics of Bari night attacks。 There can be
no doubt that their scouts must have crept close to the camp； and must
have returned to the main body without having been observed by the
sentries。 The report that all were asleep； or off their guard； had been
delivered。
It is supposed that some thousands of the enemy moved cautiously
forward； concealed by the darkness； upon ground that otherwise could not
have admitted a stealthy approach。
Fortunately for the expedition； one or two of the cattle sentries were
awake； otherwise the entire force must have been massacred。
The Baris crept forward without being observed； until they arrived near
the silent and sleepy camp。 Then with sudden shrieks and yells they
rushed forward in a mass upon the unsuspecting troops！
A slight impediment may check an assault during the darkness of night。
The only protection to the position was a simple line of thorn branches
laid in a row about twenty paces in the front； running parallel with the
river。 The naked legs of the first line of the enemy must have become
entangled in this unseen obstruction for a few seconds； which caused
sufficient confusion to destroy the momentum of the first rush forward。
The sentries by the ravine immediately fired； and the sixty men who
formed the cattle guard quickly responded； and poured a fire into the
enemy's flank。
The delay caused by the thorns was only momentary； but it had been
sufficient to allow the troops to awaken and to clutch their muskets。
Here was a glorious opportunity for the gun； if loaded with canister and
ready at point…blank range！
The enemy were already at the muzzle。 The Egyptian artillerymen forsook
their piece and fled ignominiously to the vessels for protection。 Only
one fine fellow had stood by the gun； and he pulled the lanyard when the
crowd of natives were almost upon him。 Where were the unfailing English
tubes？ An Egyptian tube had been placed in the vent in spite of all my
orders。 It MISSED FIRE！
The gun that should have swept a clear road through the enemy was
silent； and the gallant soldier who alone had stood faithful at his post
was immediately speared through the body； and fell dead。 The gun was in
the hands of the Baris。
The troops； seized with a panic； fled on board the vessels； where they
were with difficulty rallied by their officers so as to open fire from
the protection of the banks of the river。
The Baris were prepared with fire to burn the ships； which they not only
succeeded in throwing within the vessels； but they killed an unfortunate
woman with a lance； who was on the fore part of a noggur。
Troops had rushed into the cabins and upon the poop…deck of my
diahbeeah； from which they now opened fire upon the enemy who were at
the same time exposed to a flank fire from the sixty cattle guards。 Thus
checked the advance； and the major； Abdullah； succeeded in leading his
men forward and recapturing the gun。 At length a tube was found and
fitted in the vent。 Fortunately the Baris were ignorant； and the lanyard
was lying by the gun。 Another tube failed； but after some delay； the gun
at length spoke； but unfortunately not with canister。
It was already too hot for the Baris； who were between two fires； and a
few shots from the cannon settled the affair and determined the retreat。
I could not have believed in such negligence and folly had I not had a
long experience of Egyptian troops； whether brown or black。 These people
can generally be surprised； unless their commanding officer is vigilant
and most severe。 Little or no dependence can be placed on the
non…commissioned officers； these are ignorant； thoughtless people； who
having learnt from their Mohammedan teachers to trust themselves to God；
would seldom remain awake unless kept to their duty by their superior
officers。
On the morning following this attack； the big drums of the natives were
sounding in all directions upon both sides of the river。 Thousands of
Baris had congregated upon the various heights； and it appeared that a
general attack would be renewed upon the camp。
It was not considered safe to drive the cattle out to pasturage。
There can be no doubt that with a force of 145 men； Major Abdullah
should have anchored his vessels a few yards from the shore； and have
then made a vigorous attack upon the Baris。 He was provided with Hale's
rockets in addition to the field…piece； and he should have given the
enemy a severe example。
Instead of assuming the offensive； he remained inactive； which so
encouraged the enemy that they gathered from every quarter； and
naturally concluded that the troops had received a panic from the night
attack。
At this critical time； the scarlet uniforms of my fifty men appeared in
the rear of the natives； together with 400 of the Lobore。 Some of my men
belonged to the 〃Forty Thieves；〃 and the Baris upon seeing the arrival
of so powerful a reinforcement； immediately dispersed； with much blowing
of horns and whistles in defiance of Major Abdullah。
It was declared that the Baris had suffered severely during the night
attack； but I had ceased to pay much attention to the official reports
of the enemy's losses； which were always exaggerated。
Between the river and Lobore； the troops had marched without opposition；
and they had followed my instructions by leaving cows for payment at
every night's halting…place。
I now divided the flour into loads of sixty pounds each； packed in
baskets covered with raw hide。
I thus carried 3；600 lbs。 by sixty porters。 My troops were now relieved
from much weight； as I engaged 500 natives for the journey to the
interior； at the same time I ordered every soldier to carry six pounds
of flour in addition to his knapsack and accoutrements。 Every one of my
men was provided with a small tanned goatskin stripped from the animal
（like a stocking from the leg） and secured at one end like a bag。 These
little chorabs； or travelling sacks； were most convenient； and were well
adapted for carrying flour； as they were easily strapped to the top of
the knapsack。
I lost no time in preparing for a move forward。 Wani the interpreter was
invaluable； as he superintended all the arrangements necessary for
collecting the carriers。
The cattle were confined within the kraal waiting for selection。 About
1；000 natives assembled； and they were allowed to enter the zareeba and
choose their cows； in parties of four at one time； to prevent confusion。
This was a tedious operation； as the Lobore carriers were almost as
particular in their selection of cattle as ladies are supposed to be in
the choice of their dresses。
February 27。The Lobore were exceedingly quiet and orderly in their
conduct； and 500 cows having been received by as many natives； they
returned to their homes to make arrangements for the journey to Fatiko。
I find the following extract in my journal of this date ：
〃The Lobore will be useful allies as they are enemies of the Bari； and
their country is well situated； lying between Bari and Madi； on the
route to Fatiko； thus they will be ready as carriers for both ends of
the line。
〃If I can obtain eighty camels from Khartoum； I can get the steamer
along without any serious difficulty； as the Lobore natives can be
engaged to make the road； but nothing can prosper until a regular camel
transport service shall be established。
〃I am sadly in want of troops and European officers。 There should be 200
men in four parties stationed at intervals along the line to direct the
natives in opening the road。
〃A soldier deserted and ran away with his arms and ammunition to some
distant village。 I immediately called Wani and the old sheik Abbio； to
whom I explained that I should hold them responsible if the deserter
were not captured。 They sent out natives in all directions in search。
〃February 28。The natives returned； saying they had found the deserter
about half a march distant； but they could not seize him alive； as he
threatened to shoot them； at the same time they were afraid to kill him；
as he was my soldier。
〃I immediately sent a sergeant and three men of 'The Forty' to take him
prisoner。
〃In the evening the soldiers returned； having captured the deserter。 I
left him in irons to be kept at hard labour by the sheik Abbio at
Lobore； until I should return to the country。 This is a good lesson to
the troops。
〃The natives had a grand dance to…day； the men and women as usual naked；
leaping； and yelling wild songs to an extraordinary accompaniment of
music； produced by beating a long stick of extremely hard wood with a
short stick of the same substance。 Some of the girls were pretty； but
being smeared with red ochre and fat； they were not attractive。 The
natives were very civil； and although at least a thousand were present；
they immediately made room for me upon my arrival； that I might have a
good place to witness their performance。〃
I was much struck with a simple arrangement made use of by the old
people to support the back in lieu of an arm…chair。 Each person had a
cord knotted by the ends so as to form an endless loop or hoop。 The size
depended upon the measurement required； so that if the hoop were thrown
over the body when in a sitting posture upon the ground； with the knees
raised； the rope would form a band around the forepart of the knees and
the small of the back； which would thus be supported。
The Lobore are gr