Iexplainedtothemthedifficultyoffightingagainstanenemywhosetacticswouldnotpermitabattle；atthesametime，Ishouldnowoperateagainstthemsomewhatupontheirownprinciple；byestablishingaseriesofsharpshooterswhoshouldoccupytheneighbourhood，andrenderitimpossiblefortheBaristoremaininthecountry。
Mycorpswasnowcomplete，asIhadbroughtupthosewhohadremainedatGondokoro；Ihadthusforty-eightofficersandmen。TothisforceInowaddedfiftyselectedmenfromtheline，andmarchedthemawayfromcamp。
Uponarrivalatthebroadbedoftheriver，Iexplainedtothemtheplan。Thenativesgenerallyapproachedunperceivedbymeansofthiswindingtrench，whichentirelyconcealedthem。Thebanksofthisriverwereinmostplacesnearlyperpendicular，andwereaboutninefeetdeep。
Theriverwasaboutsixtyorseventypacesbroad，andwasnearlydry，asaveryshallowstreamflowedthroughthecentreofitsbed。
Ifthehighbankswereoccupiedforadistanceofseveralmilesbysmallpartiesofsharpshootersconcealedinhighdhurra，orbehindanant-hill，orcrouchedinhighgrassorbush，orinanythingthatwouldserveasaprotection，itwouldbeimpossiblefortheBaristoapproachbythefavouriteriver-bed，withoutbeingexposedtoadeadlyfirefromthelonglineofsentries。
Ithereforeselectedapositioncommencingfarbeyondmylineofposts，andentirelycommandingtheriver-bedforadistanceofseveralmiles。
Thesoldiersweredelightedwiththeplansuggested。Iarrangedthatbeforedaylightonthefollowingmorning，theyshouldoccupythepositionsassignedinpartiesoftwomenifsniders，orthreeifmuskets，atintervalsofonehundredpaces；thusthecountrywouldbeprotectedbyachainofguardsperfectlyconcealedfromview。
Igaveorderstotheofficerscommandingthetwostockadestocarryoutthissystemthroughouttheneighbourhood，sothatitwouldbeimpossibleforanyenemytomovewithoutfallingintoanambuscade。
AtdaybreakIwasup，andasusualdrankmycoffeeandsmokedthemorningpipe。AtthattimemywifeandIoccupiedatentoutsidethestockade，beneaththemostmagnificenttamarind-treethatIhaveeverseen。Fromthisspotwehadaclearviewofthecountry。Onthewestoftheplain，twomilesdistant，rosethemountainofBelinian。Ontheeastwaspark-likelandinterspersedwithfineornamentaltimber，throughwhichtheriverwinded。Foraboutahundredacresaroundthecamp，thehighdhurrahadbeencutdown；thereforetheviewwasuninterrupted。
Everythingwasperfectlystillatthisearlyhour；thebirdswereonlybeginningtochirp，andthevultureswerejustlazilyassemblingtoseeiftheycoulddiscoveronemoremorselattheslaughtering-placeoftheprecedingday。
Noonewouldhavesuspectedthattheentireneighbourhoodwasoccupiedbysharpshooters，foradistanceofsomemiles。ThewilyBarishaddelightedintheirleopard-liketactics，whichhadgiventhemseveralopportunitiesofinflictinglossuponthetroops。Theynowcommencedtheirdailyoccupation，andstartedinsmallbutnumerouspartiesfromtheirdistantvillages，forthepurposeofwaylayinganystragglers。Thesunrose，andwithmytelescopeIobservednativesabouthalfamiledistantontheothersideoftheriver；sometimesthesepeopledisappearedinthehighdhurra；everynowandthentheyreappeared；thenagaintheywerelosttoview。Theywerestealthilyapproachingforthepurposeofoccupyingtheirpositionsforconcealment。ThesewilyBarisimaginedthatwewere，asusual，keepingonthealertaroundthecamp，buttheyhadnoideathattheleopardwashimselfsonearthehiddensnare。
Suddenlyapuffofwhitesmokeshotripfromthebrightgreengrassontheothersideoftheriver-bed——thenanother，followedbythereportsoftworifles！Isawnativesrunningatfullspeedtotheleft。Anotherandanotherpuffofsmokeissuedfromadifferentquarter，astheastonishedBarisintheirhastyretreatstumbledoverthenextambuscade。Inowsawanativerunninglikeadeer，butchasedlikeagooddeerhoundbyoneofthe”FortyThieves。”Thenativewassohardpressedbythisgoodrunner，whowasencumberedwithclothes，rifle，andammunition，thathehadbeenobligedtothrowawayhisbowandarrows，togetherwithhislance。Henowgaineduponthesoldierslightly，buttheywerenotfivepacesapartwhentheydisappearedinthehighdhurra。
ThatsoldierwasAliNedjar，ofthe”FortyThieves，”thestrongestman，thebestshot，andthefleetestrunneroftheforce。PresentlyIheardashot。
Throughoutthatdayoccasionalshotswereheardineveryconceivablequarter。Itookawalkthroughthecountry，attendedbyafewofmymen，anduponseveraloccasionsIwaschallengedfromabush，ortumpofhighgrass，showingthatthemenwereallinpositionandwellconcealed。
Whenthebuglerecalledthesharpshootersintheevening，eachhadsomeadventuretorecount，andthewholecamprejoicedinthesuccessofthemanoeuvre；itwasacaseof”thebiterbit。”
Themennowlookedforwardtothisemployment，andstartingatdaybreak，theytooktheirsupplyoffoodfortheday。
Someofthemwereverycleveratthiskindofservice，especiallyAliNedjar。AliwasanativeofBongo——abroad-shouldered，muscularfellow，withthighslikeagrasshopper。Itwasapleasuretoseehimrun，andtowitnesstheimmensepowerandspeedwithwhichhepassedallcompetitorsintheprizeraces，inwhichIsometimesindulgedmymen。AliNedjarwasagoodsoldier，awarmloverofthegirls，andagreatdancer；thus，accordingtoAfricanreputation，hewastheneplusultraofaman。
Addedtothis，hewasaverywilling，goodfellow，andmorecourageousthanalion。
IhadseveralmenofAliNedjar’sstampin”TheForty，”amongwhichwerethethreeFerritch——FerritchAghaSuachli，FerritchAjokeformerlycondemnedtobeshot，andFerritchBaggara；anditmaybeeasilyimaginedthatacorpscomposedofsuchmaterialwasanawkwardenemyfortheBaris。
Afterafewdays，thegroundbecamealmosttoohotforthenatives。Theynowascendedhightrees，fromwhichtheycouldsurveythecountryanddirectthemovementsoftheirscouts。AliNedjarwastoomuchforthemevenwiththisprecaution。Hehadobservedthemlikerooksinalargetreeatagreatdistance。Thetreegrewwildinafieldofhighdhurra，andwhilethewilyBariswerelookingoutfromtheirloftypost，expectingtodiscoverusinthedistance，thestillmorewilyAliNedjarhadcreptonhandsandkneesthroughthecorn，andwasactuallybeneaththetree！
Thereportofasniderrifleundertheirfeet，andthefallofoneoftheirparty，wasthefirstintimationtheyreceivedofthesoldier’spresence。
Thisplanofoccupyingthecountrywasmostsuccessful，andinashorttimetheBarisentirelyabandonedtheneighbourhood。Theyconfessedafterwards，thatitwasuselesstoattempttofightwithsuchpeople，astheearthwasfullofsoldierswhosprangupoutofthegroundbeneaththeirfeet。
Wehadbeenthirty-fivedaysatBelinian，andtheenemyhadbeenentirelysubdued。IexplainedtothemmydeterminationofpayingthemanothervisitshouldweeverbedisturbedagainatGondokoro；thusiftheywishedforpeace，theymustremainquiet。
Thesoldiersandsailors，includingallthewomenofthecamp，wereemployedforsomedaysinconveyingthecorntohead-quarters。Ifourpeoplehadworkedwell，weshouldhavehadasupplyfortwelvemonths。
Insteadofwhich，aforceof650menhadactuallydeliveredinthemagazineonly150urdeps，orabout670bushels。
Ihavenaturallyomittedmanymilitaryincidents，andhaveonlygivenanoutlineoftheBeliniancampaign，butthemoraleffectwasgoodonallsides。Thesoldiershadlearnttheirownsuperioritytothenatives，andhadgainedexperienceandconfidence；andtheBarisofBelinianhadlearntthetruth：andinfutureweshouldsleepinpeaceathead-quarters。
CHAPTERXI。
SPIRITOFDISAFFECTION。
Theamountofcorncollectedbythetroops，nowinthemagazines，wasonlysufficientfortwomonths’consumptionatfullrations。
Therewasaspiritofgeneraldisaffectionamongtheofficersandtroops。
AlthoughIhadworkedwiththemineverydifficultyandledtheminvariablytosuccess，therewasageneraldislike，nottomepersonally，buttothesystemofrigiddisciplinethatIwasdeterminedatallhazardstoenforce，andtothegeneralobjectoftheexpedition。
Neitherofficersnormencouldunderstandwhy，duringopenwar，Ishouldforbidthecaptureofwomenandchildren，who，byallMohammedanrules，werelawfulprizes！
Itwasnotslave-hunting：theyweresimpleprisonersofwarthatGodhaddeliveredintotheirhands；anditwasahardcasethat，afterallthetroubleanddifficultieswhichhadbeenencountered，theyshouldbedebarredfromtakingafewprisoners。
Thiswastheargumentofthemilitaryforce，towhich，hadIyielded，theexpeditionwouldhavequicklyrelapsedintotheoriginalslave-huntingoftheWhiteNile，whichIwasboundtosuppress。Ihavealreadydescribedthedirectdisobedienceoftheofficersinhavingpurchased126slavessecretlyfromtheslave-hunters’stationduringthevoyage。AslavetradewouldquicklyspringupbetweentheKhedive’sofficersandtheslave-huntersofAbouSaood，unlessIenforcedthestrictestdiscipline。TheexpeditionwouldrepresentagovernmentslavemarketforthereceptionofslavescapturedbytheKhartoumcompanies。
Itmayeasilybeimagined，thatmydeterminationtoenforceobediencetothenewly-institutedreformcausedbitterdisappointmentanddisgust。
ThegovernmentIhadestablishedaffordedjusticeandprotectiontoall，whetherfreemanorslave。Ihadnotinterferedwiththeslavesthathadbeenthepropertyofofficerspriortomytakingthecommandoftheexpedition；theseremainedintheiroriginalposition，withthesimpleimprovement，thattheycouldnotbeill-treatedwithimpunity。
ApoorlittleAbyssinianboy，aboutelevenyearsofage，hadonedaycrawledthroughthehighrivergrasstoescapetheobservationofthesentries，andsuddenlyappearedonthedeckofmydiahbeeahtoclaimprotection。Hewasstreamingwithblood，andhadbeenshamefullyill-usedbyhismaster，whowasacaptainintheEgyptianregiment。Theboydemandedhisfreedom，andIimmediatelygrantedhisreleaseThisboy，namedAmam，wasagreatexampletoothersinhisgeneralgoodconductandintegrity。Heaccompaniedusthroughoutthesubsequenttrialsoftheexpeditionwithmuchdevotion，andheisnowoneofourhouseholdinEngland。
Thisforfeitureofthischildwasawarningthathadanexcellenteffectinfavouroftheslaves，butwasveryunpopularamongtheforce。
AlthoughIregrettedtheillfeelingwhichexistedonallsides，I
consideredthepositionwithpatience；andIcouldnothelpadmittingthatthiswasanaturalandinevitableconsequenceofasuddenreformwhichthreatenedsomanyinterests。
Atthesametime，Iwasdeterminedtocarryoutmymissionwithoutshrinkingfromanyconsequences。Iwasorderedtosuppresstheslavetrade；thereforethatslavetradeshouldbesuppressed；andItrustedthattimewouldeventuallygivemesoimprovedacontroloverthefeelingsofmypeople，thatImightsucceedinareformandyetbanishallill-will。
Inthemidstofanxieties，therewasonelastingsatisfactioninmyposition。Ihadthepowertoexecuteabsolutejustice，andIwishedfornootherreputationamongmypeople，whetherslavesorfreemen，thantheconfidenceofpureequitytobeobtainedwithoutdelay。AtallhoursI
wasaccessible，andeventhecomplaintsoflittlechildrenwereattendedtowiththesameattentionthatwasbestoweduponmoreimportantappeals。Ihopedbythislineofconducttobeableatlengthtoincorporatemyselfwiththeexpedition，andtogaintheaffectionofmypeople；withoutwhich，successwouldbeimpossible。
Theterribleabsenceofdisciplineamongthetroopswasagreatdifficulty，butIhadalreadyimprovedthemgreatly。SincethemutinyoftheblackdivisionatTaka，intheyear1865，whentheymurderedtheirofficers，andcommittedmanyatrocities，theEgyptianofficershadalwaysdistrustedthem。
Iwastoldbythecolonel，RaoufBey，thatifablacksoldierwerepunished，hiscomradeswouldprobablymutiny，shouldhebeageneralfavourite。Theextremelaxityofdisciplinewastheresultofawantofvigouronthepartoftheofficers。
AtthecommencementoftheBariwar，theconductofthetroops，bothbackandwhite，wasdisgraceful。Ihaveseenthem，inthepresenceoftheenemy，rushintoavillageandcommenceindiscriminatepillage：theofficersmingledwiththeirmeninaraceforplunder。Severalsoldiershadbeenkilledbythenativesuponsuchoccasions，whenseparatedfromtherestinsearchofspoil。Thecolonelhadassuredmethatitwasimpossibletopreventthissackingofvillages，asitwastherewardthetroopsexpectedafteravictory。
Fortunatelymymodelcorps，the”FortyThieves，”werealwayswithme，whichenabledmetoactdecidedly。Mylieutenant-colonel，Abd-el-Kader，andthefaithfulMonsoor，werereadytocarryoutmyordersonthespot。
WhenIcaughtthetroopsindisorderlypillage，Ihadtheprincipalactorsseizedandlaiddownontheinstantinthecentreofthemen，andadministeredfiftyapiecewithastoutbamboo。
TheSoudanisoldiersquicklyperceivedthatthereinsweretighterthanformerly；andIfolloweduptheprincipleofsternpunishmentuntilI
obtainedanabsolutecontrol，withouttheslightestattemptatresistancetomyauthority。
IhadlearnttoliketheSoudanis；therewasanuntiringenergyintheirmovementsveryunliketheEgyptians；theyonlyrequiredEuropeanofficerstobecomefirst-ratetroops。
Althoughtheforcehadmuchimprovedbytheincreaseofdiscipline，theywouldhavemuchpreferredthegoodoldtimesofplunderandprisoners。