the route to Fatiko。 The fact was； that the Lobores had wished on the
previous day to take me to Farragenia； which is two days nearer than
Fatiko。 Had I been ignorant of the country； we should have been
deceived。
I steered through low open forest； the leaves of which had been scorched
off by the fire that had cleared the country。 Neither a village nor the
print of a human foot could be seen。 This beautiful district that had
formerly abounded in villages had been depopulated by the slave…hunters。
Having taken the Shooa mountain for a steering point； we reached the
spot where in former years I had passed five months in the camp of
Ibrahim。 This also had been destroyed； in addition to all the numerous
villages of the mountain。 We had marched fourteen miles。
I gave orders that on the morrow all the troops were to appear in their
best uniforms； as we were only six miles from Fatiko； the principal
station； where I fully expected to meet Abou Saood himself。
CHAPTER XVI。
ARRIVAL AT FATIKO。
ON 6th March； 1872； we started from the bivouac at the base of the Shooa
mountain at 6。10 A。M。
The troops were in excellent spirits； the air was fresh and cool in this
elevated country； the horses had been well groomed； and the arms and
accoutrements had been burnished on the previous afternoon； in order to
make a good appearance before my old friends the natives of Fatiko and
Shooa。
The bright scarlet uniforms and snow…white linen trousers of 212 men
looked extremely gay upon the fresh green grass； which had lately sprung
up throughout this beautiful park。
There was no enemy in this country。 From a former residence of five
months at Shooa； both my wife and myself were well known to the
inhabitants； and I felt sure that our arrival would be hailed with
gladness。 In my former visit I had been a successful hunter； and had
always given the flesh to the natives； thus； as the road to a negro's
heart is through his stomach； I knew that my absence must have been
felt； and that the recollections of past times would be savoury and
agreeable。
I had with me a herd of 1；078 cows and 194 sheep。 No guard was
necessary； and I intrusted the stock to the care of the three boatmen；
and my Bari interpreter； Morgian。
The line of march was thus arranged：Myself； with my wife and
Lieutenant Baker； on horseback in advance； preceded by the guard of five
of the 〃Forty Thieves。〃 Then came Colonel Abd…el…Kader and the remaining
forty…three； composing the gallant 〃Forty。〃 After which came the
regiment； all necessarily in single file。 Then came the baggage with 400
carriers； followed by the herd of cattle。
All our boys were dressed in their scarlet uniforms； and the girls and
women generally had dressed in their best clothes。 Little Cuckoo as
usual carried my small travelling…bag upon his head； and kept his line
with the other boys； all of whom assumed an air that was intended to be
thoroughly regimental。
In this order the march commenced。 The distance was only six miles。 This
was as lovely a route as could be conceived。
Magnificent trees （acacias）； whose thick； dark foliage drooped near the
ground； were grouped in clumps； springing from the crevices between huge
blocks of granite。 Brooks of the purest water rippled over the time…worn
channels cut through granite plateaux； and as we halted to drink at the
tempting stream； the water tasted as cold as though from an European
spring。
The entire country on our left was a succession of the most beautiful
rocky undulations and deep verdant glades； at the bottom of which flowed
perennial streams。 The banks of these rivulets were richly clothed with
ornamental timber； the green foliage contrasting strongly with the dark
grey blocks of granite resembling the ruins of ancient towers。
We travelled along a kind of hog's back； which formed the watershed to
the west。 As we ascended； until we reached a large plateau of clean
granite of about two acres； we broke upon a magnificent panorama； which
commanded an extensive view of the whole country。
On the west； we looked down upon the plains through which we had
arrived； and the view stretched far away beyond the Nile； until it met
the horizon bounded by the grey outline of the distant mountains。
No one could feel unhappy in such a scene。 I trod upon my old ground；
every step of which I knew； and I felt an exhilaration of spirits at the
fact that I was once more here in the new capacity of a deliverer； who
would be welcomed with open arms by the down…trodden natives of this
country。
Having descended from the clean plateau of rock； we carefully rode
across a slippery channel that had been worn by the sandy torrents of
the rainy season； and once more arrived at level ground。 We were now on
the great table…land of Fatiko。
Upon our left； a mass of bold ruins； the granite skeleton remains of a
perished mountain； which formed a shelter from the morning sun； tempted
us to halt。
We had thus suddenly appeared upon the greensward of the plateau without
the slightest warning to the inhabitants of Fatiko。 About a mile before
us stood the large station of Abou Saood； which occupied at least thirty
acres。 On our right we were hemmed in by a wall of granite； sloped like
a huge whale； about three…quarters of a mile long and 100 feet high。 The
southern extremity of this vast block of clean granite was the rocky and
fantastic hill of Fatiko crested with fine timber。 To our left； and
straight before us； was a perfectly flat plain like a race…course； the
south end being a curious and beautiful assemblage of immense granite
blocks； and groups of weeping acacia。
A large village occupied the base of Fatiko hill 。。。 The bugles and
drums sounded 〃the advance。〃 The echoes rang from the hard granite rock
as the unusual sound gave the first warning of our presence。
I had dismounted from my horse； and was watching the slaver's camp with
a powerful telescope； as the bugles sounded and the men fell into order。
A number of people ran out of the camp； and stared at the blaze of
scarlet uniforms； which must have appeared as a larger force than the
reality； owing to the bright contrast of red with the green turf。
In an instant there was confusion in the camp。 I soon distinguished
immense numbers of slaves being driven quickly out； and hurried away to
the south。 The slaver's drum beat； and a number of crimson flags were
seen advancing； until they halted and formed a line close to the
entrance of the village。 I now saw natives rushing wildly to and fro in
all directions armed with spears and shields。
Some time elapsed before the cattle and baggage arrived。 In the meantime
I waited； perched on a block of granite； with my telescope； watching
every movement。 There was no doubt that our sudden appearance had caused
intense excitement。 I saw men running from the trader's station to the
large village opposite； at the foot of the hill。
At length； I observed two men approaching。
We were not yet ready for a general advance； therefore； as the servants
and carriers； cattle； &c。； fell into order； the band struck up some
Turkish airs； which sounded extremely wild and appropriate to the
savagely…beautiful scenery around us。
In the meantime the two messengers drew nearer。 They were both filthy
dirty； and appeared to be clad in dark…brown leather。 One man seemed to
hesitate； and stood about sixty yards distant； and demanded who we were。
Upon hearing from Colonel Abdel…Kader that it was 〃the Pacha；〃 and that
〃he need not be afraid；〃 he told us that Abou Saood was at the station；
and that he would run back with the news。
The other messenger came timidly forward； until he stood close beneath
me。 My wife was on horseback by my side。
Can it be possible？ MOHAMMED； my old Cairo servant of former years？
The grand dragoman of the lower Nile reduced to this！ My wife exclaimed；
〃Ah； Mohammed； I am very glad to see you； but how wretched you appear！〃
This was too much for the prodigal son； he seized my wife's hand to
kiss； and burst into tears。
Poor Mohammed！ he had gone through many trials since we last met。 When I
left him in Khartoum ill with guinea…worm in the leg； he was on his way
to Cairo； but after my departure he had been tempted by the
slave…traders to re…engage in the infamous but engrossing career； and he
too had become a slave…hunter。 He had never received any pay； as the
custom of the slavers was to pay their men in slaves。 Mohammed had never
been fortunate in his domestic affairs； he was not a favourite of the
ladies； thus his female slaves had all run away； his fortune had walked
off； and he was left a beggar； with an overdrawn account in slaves。
Mohammed had never been a good English scholar； but want of practice
during many years had almost obscured the light of his former learning；
which was reduced to the faintest glimmer。
The bugles now sounded the 〃advance；〃 and we marched forward in
admirable order； with the band playing。
In the meantime； several natives had approached； and having recognized
Lady Baker and myself； they immediately raced back to the village with
the news。
My men looked remarkably well； and the advance into Fatiko was a sight
that was entirely new to Central Africa。 We were in magnificent order
for work； with a hardy disciplined force of 212 men； and a stock of
cattle and merchandise that would carry us to any direction I might
desire。
This arrival； in such perfect organization； was a fatal blow to the
hopes and intrigues of Abou Saood。 I was actually among them； in the
very nest and hotbed of the slavers； in spite of every difficulty。
Abou Saood came to meet me； with his usual humble appearance； as we
neared his station； and he cringingly invited us to rest in some huts
that had just been prepared for our reception。
I declined the invitation； and prepared to camp beneath some grand
acacias； among the granite rocks； about a quarter of a mile beyond；
where I had rested some years ago。 I accordingly led the way； until we
arrived at a very beautiful spot； among some immense granite blocks；
shaded by the desired foliage。 Here the word was given 〃Halt！〃 and the
tent was quickly pitched in a favourable l