第25章
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  LikemostofthetribesoftheWhiteNile,theBarishaveastrongobjectiontoselltheircattle;thusyoumaybesurroundedbyplenty,butyoumaystarveinthemidstofbeef。

  Theirlargeherdsareconfinedatnightwithinzareebasorkraals。Theseareformidabledefences。ThecattlezareebaisacircularstockadeformedofahardwoodcalledbytheArabsabou-noosorabdnoosebony。

  Thisisanintenselyhardblackwoodsomewhatresemblingebony。Pilesasthickasaman’sthigharesunkintheearth,soastoleaveafenceorstockadeofabouteightfeethighabovethesurface;thesepilesareplacedascloseaspossibletogether,andinterlacedbytoughhookedthorns,whichwhendryandcontractedbindthestockadeintoaverycompactdefence。Theentrancetothisfortisonlysufficientlylargetoadmitoneanimalatatime;thustheherdcanbeeasilycounted。Withinthestockadeareseveralhouses,inadditiontoafewlargecircularshedsfortheprotectionofyoungcalves。Thesheepandgoatsarekeptinaseparatezareeba。

  AlltheoperationsoftheBarisareconductedbysignalsgivenbythedrum,preciselyasourmilitarymovementsaredirectedbybugle-calls。

  Thegreatdrumthatbelongstotheheadmanorsheik,issuspendedbeneathanopenshed,sothatitisalwaysprotectedfromweather,andatthesametimethesoundcouldtravelunchecked。Thesedrumsarecutandscoopedwithgreatlabourfromapeculiarwood,whichisexceedinglytoughandwillnoteasilysplit。TheBaridrumisexactlytheshapeofaneggwithaslicetakenoffthethickerend。Someoftheseinstrumentsareverylarge,andasmuchastwomencouldcarryonapole。Bothendsarehollowedthroughandsecuredwithhide;butthebroadendformstheactualdrum。Thisisbeatenwithtwoshortsticksofhardwood。Intheearlymorning,shortlybeforesunrise,thehollowsoundofthebigdrumisalwaysheardgivingthesignalbyacertainnumberofbeat’sforthemilkingofthecows。Thewomenandyoungmenthencommence,andwhentheoperationiscompleted,thedrumbeatsagain,andthelargeherdsaredriventopasturage。Thesignalisrepeatedintheevening。Shouldanenemyattackthecountry,thesheik’sbigdrumgivesthealarmbyapeculiarseriesofbeats,whichifonceheardcaneasilyberemembered。

  Inafewsecondsthisloudalarmwillbere-echoedbyeverydrumthroughoutthenumerousvillages,andthenewsoftheattackwillthusspreadbysignalasfastassoundcantravel。Acertainbeatofthesheik’sbigdrumisthecallforageneralassembly,inwhichcase,shouldanenemyappear,thewholeforcesofthedistrictcanbeconcentratedinonepoint。

  TheweaponsoftheBarisarefinely-wroughtlances,andbowswithhorriblybarbedarrows。Theyseldomcarryshields,astheyaredifficulttomanagetogetherwiththebow,andtheyimpedetherapidmovements’

  whicharethechieffeatureinBaritactics。

  Themenaregenerallytallandpowerful,alwaysnakedandsmearedwithashes,orongreatoccasionswithredochreandgrease。Thewomenarenotabsolutelybad-looking,butrealbeautiesareextremelyrare。Theywearanapronbeforeandbehindoftannedleather,extendingnearlytotheknees,whichisonlytheoutergarment,beneathwhichtheywearaneatly-madefringeofinnumerablestrings,formedoffinely-spincottonthread,suspendedfromaleatherbelt。Someofthewealthypossessfringecomposedofironrings,neatlyworked,soastoformakindofshirtofmail。

  Everymanisawarriorfromhischildhood,astheBarisarealwaysatwar。Theyareextremelycleverintheuseofthelance,whichtheycanthrowwithgreataccuracyforadistanceofthirtyyards,andtheycanpitchitintoabodyofmenatupwardsoffiftyyards。Fromearlychildhoodtheboysareinconstantpractice,bothwiththelanceandthebowandarrow;thus,althoughtheirweaponsareinferiortofire-armsproperlyused,theyaredangerousinthehandsofproficientsagainstmenwho,likemytroops,wereutterlyignorantoftheartofshooting。

  Fortunatelyformyexpedition,thewarlikeBariswerenotunitedthroughouttheirterritory。Nevertheless,IdiscoveredthattheBarisofGondokorohadmadeanalliancewiththoseofBelinian,twelvemilesfromhead-quarters。Iobservedthatwomenwereconstantlypassingtoandfrowithbasketsontheirheads,carryingsaltfromGondokoro,andeachreturningwithagoat,ledbyastring。ExcellentsaltisfoundatGondokoro,realchlorideofsodium;andthisarticleenablesthenativesofthatdistricttotradewiththeinterior,wheresaltisextremelyrareandofgreatvalue。Ihadremarkedthatwomen,andsometimesmen,weremetinmyramblesthroughtheforest,ontheirwaytoBelinianbythisconcealedroute,insteadoftakingtheopenpath;thisarousedmysuspicion,asthechief,Allorron,andhispeopledeclaredthattheywereenemiesoftheBeliniannatives。

  Thepositionhadbecomeintolerable。ThefactcouldnolongerbeconcealedthattheBariswerehostile。Nopositiveoutbreakhadoccurred,butthenativesweresullenintheirdemeanour,andgenerallyavoidedthenewsettlement。Butchers’meatwasexceedinglyscarce,aswehadonlyafewcowsthathadbeengivenduringthevoyagebythevakeeloftheBohrstation。Thetroopswerewithoutrationsofmeat。Atthesametimetherewerethousandsofcattleontheislandsbeforetheireyes,notoneofwhichcouldbepurchasedfromthenatives。Althoughthenativesrefusedtoassistusinanyway,ortosupplyuswithcattleatanyprice,theydrovetheirherdsacrossfromtheislandtothemainlandtofattenonthefinepasturageunderthegovernmentprotection。Thispasturage,havingbeenabandonedbythemandoccupiedbythegovernmenttroops,hadnaturallybecomethepropertyoftheKhedive。Thenativeshadnomorerighttothesoilfromwhichtheyhadbeendriven,thantheFrenchwouldhavetoAlsaceandLorraine,shouldthoseprovincesbeoccupiedbyaforeignPowerwhichhaddrivenouttheGermans。

  Thelastvesselshavingarrived,terminatedthevoyagefromTewfikeeyah,whichhadoccupiedfivemonthsandtwenty-twodays。Thetroops,whohadsufferedmuchbyfatigueincuttingthroughthemarshes,hadnotbeenabsolutelyrelievedbytheirarrivalintheclearWhiteNile。Thenorthwindchangedsuddenlytothesouth,inwhichunfavourablequarteritcontinuedsteadilyforamonth;thusmyunfortunatemenhadtotowthevesselsalongthebanksagainstwindandstreamforabout300milesfromWat-el-ShambitoGondokoro。Uponarrivalatthatstation,whichIhaddescribedtothemasthe”PromisedLand,”theyfoundalovelypark,butwithoutasingledwelling。Insteadofbeingreceivedasdeliverersbyafriendlyandgratefulpopulation,theymetwithneglectandill-willfromatribeofrobbers,alliesofthetraders,whofatteneduponthespoilofweakerneighbours。

  Afteralltheirhardworkandsufferinginattainingthepromisedparadise,theyfoundonlyadditionallabourawaitingthem,astheyhadtowanderseveralmilesinsearchoflongthatch-grassandtimbertoconstructthenewstation,inwhichfatiguetheywereentirelyunassistedbythesulleninhabitants。

  Addedtothesedisappointments,themenwerehungry,andnocattlecouldbepurchasedfrommynewsubjects,whowereobstinateandrefractory。

  IhadaseriousconversationwithSheikAllorron,duringwhichIclearlydefinedourrelativepositions,andrepresentedtohiminthestrongesttermsthefollyoftrustingtothesupportofAbouSaoodandhispeopleagainstthegovernment,astheywereallsubjectsoftheKhediveandboundtoobeymyorders。AtthesametimeIinformedhimoftheabsolutenecessityofcattleforthesupplyofthetroops,whichIpromisedtopayfor。

  Iclearlysawthatthemiserablepolicyofthesepeoplewastostarvethetroopsintothesupposednecessityofevacuatingtheposition,andreturningtoKhartoum。IrepresentedtoAllorronthedangeroftriflingwithahungrylion,atwhichhegrinned,asagoodjoke,andimmediatelyreplied:”Ifyouwantcattle,Iwillgiveyousomeofmypeopleasguides,andyoucanattackaneighbourofmine,andcapturehisherds,whichwilllastyouforalongtime。”Ireplied,thatIcouldnotinjureanyonewhohadnotcommittedanoffence,butasheforthelasttimerefusedassistance,Ishouldnotpermithisherdstograzeuponmypasturage;thereforeIbeggedtheymightbeconfinedtotheisland。

  AtthesametimeIofficiallyinvitedAllorronandalltheheadmenofthecountry,includingthesheikofBelinian,toanentertainment。I

  intended,formallyandofficially,toannexthecountrytoEgypt。

  OnMay26,1871,allwasinorder。Aflag-staffabouteightyfeethighhadbeenneatlyerectedbyLieut。Bakeronthehighestpointoflandoverlookingtheriver。Everysmallbushhadbeenclearedaway,andthepositioninthecentreofanopenpark-likecountrywouldhaveformedanadmirablerace-course。Thetroops,havinghadtwodays’resttowashtheirclothesandburnishuptheirarmsandaccoutrements,marchedfromthestationatGondokoroat6A。M。

  Ihad1,200menontheground,includingtenmountainrifledgunsthrowing8and1/4lbs。shell。

  Intheircleanwhiteuniforms,withtheneatkoofeeiaorsun-cloth,which,coveringthehead,droopedgracefullyupontheshoulders,thetroopsshowedtogreatadvantage,astheymarchedwiththebandplayingfromhead-quarterstotheflagstaffabovemystation。Astheyfiledthroughthegreentrees,andthenformedintosectionsofcompaniesastheyemergedintotheopenground,theeffectwasexceedinglygood,andthesheik,Allorron,andhisfriends,theheadmenofmanyvillages,lookedwithamazementuponascenethatwasaltogethernewtothem。

  Havingarrivedoppositetheflag-staff,thetroopsformedinlinetwodeepontheflatgrassysurfaceoftheheightsabovemystation。Thelongrowofglitteringbayonetsandthegayuniformsoftheofficersbewilderedtheastonishednatives。Allthesailors,servants,andcamp-followersweredressedintheirbestclothes。Theprevailingcolours,whiteandred,lookedexceedinglygayuponthecloseandevensurfaceofthegreenturf。Mystaffwascomposedofmyaides-de-camp,LieutenantBaker,R。N。,Lieut-ColonelAbd-el-Kader,togetherwiththreeotherofficers,andMr。Higginbotham。Atthattimethehorseswereallinexcellentcondition。

  Havingriddenalongthelineandhaltedbeneaththeflag,thetroopsformedthreesidesofasquarewiththeflag-staffinthecentre。Thefourthside,facingtheriver,wasthenoccupiedbytheartillery,withtenguns。

  Theformalityofreadingtheofficialproclamation,describingtheannexationofthecountrytoEgyptinthenameoftheKhedive,thentookplaceatthefootoftheflag-staff。Attheterminationofthelastsentence,theOttomanflagwasquicklyrunupbythehalyardsandflutteredinthestrongbreezeatthemast-head。Theofficerswithdrawnswordssalutedtheflag,thetroopspresentedarms,andthebatteriesofartilleryfiredaroyalsalute。

  Thisceremonybeingcompleted,thetroopsmarchedpast;afterwhich,theyformedinorderforasupposedattackuponanimaginaryenemy,andfiredawayabouttenthousandroundsofblankcartridgeintheadvancedownthelongslopewhichledtothetemporarycampandtentserectedfortheentertainment。Herethebuglesounded”disperse,”andallthemenimmediatelysettoworktolightfiresandpreparethefoodthathadbeenalreadysuppliedfortheirdinners。Ibelievethiswastheonlydayofrealenjoymentthatthetroopshadhad。Thehourspassedinrestandsleepuntilsunset。

  Ihadinvitedfourteenoftheofficerstodinewithme,andourpartyofeighteenwaseasilyaccommodatedontheroomypoop-deckofmydiahbeeah。

  TheEnglishmenhadatabletothemselvesinthegarden,andwereregaledwithroastbeefandrealEnglishplum-pudding,that,havingbeenbroughtoutintinsforChristmasDay,couldnotbefoundduringthevoyage;

  thereforeitaddedtothefeastofthe”dayofannexation,”andwasannexedaccordinglybyEnglishappetites。ThiswaswasheddownandrenderedwholesomebyaquantityofpurefilteredwaterfromtheriverNile,whichwasincludedintheannexation;andwasrepresentedintheNileBasinmixedwithJamaicarum,sugar,nutmeg,andlemon-juicefromthefruitofthetreesplantedbythegoodAustrianmissionariesatGondokoro。Littledidtheythink,poorfellows,ofthejollificationtowhichtheirlemonswouldsubscribewhentheyfirstsowedthegoodseeds。

  Whendinnerwasover,werepairedtothelargedivantents,whererefreshmentswerearranged,andthemagiclanternwaspreparedfortheamusementofofficersandmen。Thiswasanadmirablemachine,andwaswellexplainedbyLieutenantBaker。Noonehadeverseensuchanexhibitionbefore,thereforeitcausedimmensesatisfaction。Oneoftherepresentationsthatwasmostapplauded,was,MosesgoingthroughtheRedSeawiththeIsraelites,followedbyPharaoh。ThestorybeingwellknowntoallMohammedans,theperformancewasencoredwithsuchenergythatMoseshadtogothroughtheRedSeatwice,andtheywouldhaveinsisteduponhiscrossingathirdtime,hadtheslidenotbeenrapidlyexchangedforanothersubject。

  Theformalceremonyofannexationwasover,anditwasnecessarytodecideuponthefuture。

  IhadissuedthefollowingCampRegulations:——

  1。”Nopersonshallcutorinotherwaysdestroyanytamarindoroiltreeunderanypretextwhatever。Neithershallanytreewhatsoeverbeeithercutordamagedwithinadistanceof2,000pacesfromtheflag-stafforcamp。

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