”February23——IwentoutwithLieutenantBaker，accompaniedbysomenatives，andtravelledoververylikelyground，composedofforest，glades，ravinesfullofbamboos，&c。，untilwereachedthebaseofGebelForke。”Wehadpassedoverseveralmilesandhadonlyseenafewsmallantelopes，whenuponascendingsomerisinggroundintheveryopenforest，wecaughtsightofaherdoftetelboundingalongthroughsomehighgrasstowardssomelow，rockyhills，afewhundredyardsdistant。Thereweremanylargetreesgrowingoutofthecleftsoftherocks，andIproposedthatLieutenantBakershouldgoroundthehillonmyright，whileIshouldcreepquietlyoverthesummitoftherocks，asIexpectedweshouldfindtheantelopesstandinginsomeshelteredglade。”WhenIarrivedatthebaseofthesmallhill，whichwasnothigherthanseventyoreightyfeet，andwascomposedoflargemassesofgranite，I
carefullyascended，withoutmakingtheslightestnoise。”Onarrivalatthedenudedsummit，Iwaswellconcealedbyadetachedblockofgranitethatlayuponaflatweather-wornsurfaceofthesamerock。”Iraisedmyhead，andlookedinvainfortheantelopes。Thegroundwasabeautifulpark，characterizedbynumerousmassesofgranite，likeruinedcastles，amongtreesofallshadesofgreen。Thegroundwascoveredwithyounggrassaboutsixincheshigh，whichhadsprungupaftertheannualfirethathaddestroyedthelastyear’sdryherbage。”Icouldseenogame。PresentlyIobservedthenative，whowasafewyardsonmyleft，makingeagergestures，andpointingwithhisfinderinordertodirectmyattention。Iatonceperceivedafamilyofwildpigswhichhademergedfromsomebush，andwerequietlyfeedingalongtheglade，sothattheywouldshortlypassinfrontofmewithinsixtyyards。”Thenativesloveporkbeyondallotherflesh，thusIhadagoodopportunityforshowingthemalittletreat。WithaquickrightandleftshotIknockedovertwopigs，andreloadingthe”Dutchman”inafewinstants，Irolledoveraboarthathadgallopedofftoabout120yards’
distance。Thisanimalrecovereditselfandgotawaytosomeplaceofcover。”UponthearrivalofLieutenantBakerandthenatives，wetrackedthebloodforabout300yardstoasmallplotofhighgrassthathadescapedthefire。Iknewthatwemustfindthewoundedboarinthisretreat。I
thereforeorderedthenativestobeatitout。Theboarsoonbrokecoverandgallopedoffalongtheopen，butquicklyrolledoverasashotfromthe”Dutchman”struckitbehindtheshoulder。Thenativesweredelightedwiththesuccessoftherifle，asithadproducedthreefinepigsfortheirservicewithinafewminutes。””February24——Thewholeofthetroopsandbaggagefromthevesselsarrivedsafelyto-day，togetherwiththecattleandsheep，thusallmyarrangementshave，thankGod，speeded，andIamnowinpossessionofmyforceandmaterial。”
MajorAbdullahdeliveredhisreport。AsIhadexpected，hehadbeenattackedingreatforcebythenativesaftermydeparture。TheBaris，asusual，hademployedtreachery，whichhadverynearlysucceeded。
AdayortwoafterIhadleftthevessels，severalnativeshaddesiredtocommunicatewithMajorAbdullah。ThesemendeclaredthattheyhadnothingtodowithBedden，andthatalltheBarisoftheeastsideoftheNiledesiredpeace。
ItwouldhavebeennaturaltosupposethataftersorecentanexampleoftreacheryonthepartofBedden，MajorAbdullahwouldhavebeenkeenlysuspicious；hewasneverthelessdeceivedbythespeciouspromisesofthewilyBaris。Thisofficerknewmywishforpeaceandgood-will，andhetrustedtobeabletoassureme，thataftermydeparturehehadbeenabletoestablishamicablerelationswithourlateenemies。
Themessengersreturnedtotheirvillages，andnativesvisitedthecampwithfowls，tobacco，andvariousarticlesforsale。Thesoldierswerereadypurchasers，astheywerewellsuppliedwithbeads，zincmirrors，andvarioustrifleswhichtheyhadrecentlyobtainedfromthegovernmentmagazines。Thefaultofmymenlayintheirextravagance，andtheyusuallyspoiledamarketbyofferingtoomuch。Thetradecommencedvigorously，andthenowpeaceableBaristhrongedtothevessels，andmixedfreelywiththeofficersandtroops。
OnthenightofFebruary17，1872，thetroopswerefastasleep。
Confidencehadbeenthoroughlyestablished，andtherewasnoapprehensionofcomingdanger。Myofficersandmenwerecarelessofprecautions；thesentrieswerenearlyallasleep。Thecannonhadbeenloadedwithshellinsteadofcanister。TheWoolwichtubeshadbeenputawaysosafelythattheycouldnotbefoundwhenwanted。Thegunhadnotbeensightedforclosedistance，neitherhadanyofmymostpositiveinstructionsbeencarriedout。Theartillerymenweresoundasleepupontheirmatsaroundtheirneglectedgun。
IhavealreadydescribedthetacticsofBarinightattacks。Therecanbenodoubtthattheirscoutsmusthavecreptclosetothecamp，andmusthavereturnedtothemainbodywithouthavingbeenobservedbythesentries。Thereportthatallwereasleep，orofftheirguard，hadbeendelivered。
Itissupposedthatsomethousandsoftheenemymovedcautiouslyforward，concealedbythedarkness，upongroundthatotherwisecouldnothaveadmittedastealthyapproach。
Fortunatelyfortheexpedition，oneortwoofthecattlesentrieswereawake，otherwisetheentireforcemusthavebeenmassacred。
TheBariscreptforwardwithoutbeingobserved，untiltheyarrivednearthesilentandsleepycamp。Thenwithsuddenshrieksandyellstheyrushedforwardinamassupontheunsuspectingtroops！
Aslightimpedimentmaycheckanassaultduringthedarknessofnight。
Theonlyprotectiontothepositionwasasimplelineofthornbrancheslaidinarowabouttwentypacesinthefront，runningparallelwiththeriver。Thenakedlegsofthefirstlineoftheenemymusthavebecomeentangledinthisunseenobstructionforafewseconds，whichcausedsufficientconfusiontodestroythemomentumofthefirstrushforward。
Thesentriesbytheravineimmediatelyfired，andthesixtymenwhoformedthecattleguardquicklyresponded，andpouredafireintotheenemy’sflank。
Thedelaycausedbythethornswasonlymomentary，butithadbeensufficienttoallowthetroopstoawakenandtoclutchtheirmuskets。
Herewasagloriousopportunityforthegun，ifloadedwithcanisterandreadyatpoint-blankrange！
Theenemywerealreadyatthemuzzle。TheEgyptianartillerymenforsooktheirpieceandfledignominiouslytothevesselsforprotection。Onlyonefinefellowhadstoodbythegun，andhepulledthelanyardwhenthecrowdofnativeswerealmostuponhim。WhereweretheunfailingEnglishtubes?AnEgyptiantubehadbeenplacedintheventinspiteofallmyorders。ItMISSEDFIRE！
Thegunthatshouldhavesweptaclearroadthroughtheenemywassilent，andthegallantsoldierwhoalonehadstoodfaithfulathispostwasimmediatelyspearedthroughthebody，andfelldead。ThegunwasinthehandsoftheBaris。
Thetroops，seizedwithapanic，fledonboardthevessels，wheretheywerewithdifficultyralliedbytheirofficerssoastoopenfirefromtheprotectionofthebanksoftheriver。
TheBariswerepreparedwithfiretoburntheships；whichtheynotonlysucceededinthrowingwithinthevessels，buttheykilledanunfortunatewomanwithalance，whowasontheforepartofanoggur。
Troopshadrushedintothecabinsanduponthepoop-deckofmydiahbeeah，fromwhichtheynowopenedfireupontheenemywhowereatthesametimeexposedtoaflankfirefromthesixtycattleguards。Thuscheckedtheadvance，andthemajor，Abdullah，succeededinleadinghismenforwardandrecapturingthegun。Atlengthatubewasfoundandfittedinthevent。FortunatelytheBariswereignorant，andthelanyardwaslyingbythegun。Anothertubefailed，butaftersomedelay，thegunatlengthspoke，butunfortunatelynotwithcanister。
ItwasalreadytoohotfortheBaris，whowerebetweentwofires，andafewshotsfromthecannonsettledtheaffairanddeterminedtheretreat。
IcouldnothavebelievedinsuchnegligenceandfollyhadInothadalongexperienceofEgyptiantroops，whetherbrownorblack。Thesepeoplecangenerallybesurprised，unlesstheircommandingofficerisvigilantandmostsevere。Littleornodependencecanbeplacedonthenon-commissionedofficers；theseareignorant，thoughtlesspeople，whohavinglearntfromtheirMohammedanteacherstotrustthemselvestoGod，wouldseldomremainawakeunlesskepttotheirdutybytheirsuperiorofficers。
Onthemorningfollowingthisattack，thebigdrumsofthenativesweresoundinginalldirectionsuponbothsidesoftheriver。ThousandsofBarishadcongregateduponthevariousheights，anditappearedthatageneralattackwouldbereneweduponthecamp。
Itwasnotconsideredsafetodrivethecattleouttopasturage。
Therecanbenodoubtthatwithaforceof145men，MajorAbdullahshouldhaveanchoredhisvesselsafewyardsfromtheshore，andhavethenmadeavigorousattackupontheBaris。HewasprovidedwithHale’srocketsinadditiontothefield-piece；andheshouldhavegiventheenemyasevereexample。
Insteadofassumingtheoffensive，heremainedinactive，whichsoencouragedtheenemythattheygatheredfromeveryquarter，andnaturallyconcludedthatthetroopshadreceivedapanicfromthenightattack。
Atthiscriticaltime，thescarletuniformsofmyfiftymenappearedintherearofthenatives，togetherwith400oftheLobore。Someofmymenbelongedtothe”FortyThieves；”andtheBarisuponseeingthearrivalofsopowerfulareinforcement，immediatelydispersed，withmuchblowingofhornsandwhistlesindefianceofMajorAbdullah。
ItwasdeclaredthattheBarishadsufferedseverelyduringthenightattack；butIhadceasedtopaymuchattentiontotheofficialreportsoftheenemy’slosses，whichwerealwaysexaggerated。
BetweentheriverandLobore，thetroopshadmarchedwithoutopposition，andtheyhadfollowedmyinstructionsbyleavingcowsforpaymentateverynight’shalting-place。
Inowdividedtheflourintoloadsofsixtypoundseach，packedinbasketscoveredwithrawhide。
Ithuscarried3，600lbs。bysixtyporters。Mytroopswerenowrelievedfrommuchweight，asIengaged500nativesforthejourneytotheinterior；atthesametimeIorderedeverysoldiertocarrysixpoundsofflourinadditiontohisknapsackandaccoutrements。Everyoneofmymenwasprovidedwithasmalltannedgoatskinstrippedfromtheanimallikeastockingfromthelegandsecuredatoneendlikeabag。Theselittlechorabs，ortravellingsacks，weremostconvenient，andwerewelladaptedforcarryingflour，astheywereeasilystrappedtothetopoftheknapsack。
Ilostnotimeinpreparingforamoveforward。Wanitheinterpreterwasinvaluable，ashesuperintendedallthearrangementsnecessaryforcollectingthecarriers。
Thecattlewereconfinedwithinthekraalwaitingforselection。About1，000nativesassembled，andtheywereallowedtoenterthezareebaandchoosetheircows，inpartiesoffouratonetime，topreventconfusion。
Thiswasatediousoperation，astheLoborecarrierswerealmostasparticularintheirselectionofcattleasladiesaresupposedtobeinthechoiceoftheirdresses。
February27——TheLoborewereexceedinglyquietandorderlyintheirconduct，and500cowshavingbeenreceivedbyasmanynatives，theyreturnedtotheirhomestomakearrangementsforthejourneytoFatiko。
Ifindthefollowingextractinmyjournalofthisdate：——”TheLoborewillbeusefulalliesastheyareenemiesoftheBari，andtheircountryiswellsituated，lyingbetweenBariandMadi，ontheroutetoFatiko；thustheywillbereadyascarriersforbothendsoftheline。”IfIcanobtaineightycamelsfromKhartoum，Icangetthesteameralongwithoutanyseriousdifficulty，astheLoborenativescanbeengagedtomaketheroad；butnothingcanprosperuntilaregularcameltransportserviceshallbeestablished。”IamsadlyinwantoftroopsandEuropeanofficers。Thereshouldbe200
meninfourpartiesstationedatintervalsalongthelinetodirectthenativesinopeningtheroad。”Asoldierdesertedandranawaywithhisarmsandammunitiontosomedistantvillage。IimmediatelycalledWaniandtheoldsheikAbbio，towhomIexplainedthatIshouldholdthemresponsibleifthedeserterwerenotcaptured。Theysentoutnativesinalldirectionsinsearch。”February28——Thenativesreturned，sayingtheyhadfoundthedeserterabouthalfamarchdistant，buttheycouldnotseizehimalive，ashethreatenedtoshootthem；atthesametimetheywereafraidtokillhim，ashewasmysoldier。”Iimmediatelysentasergeantandthreemenof’TheForty’totakehimprisoner。”Intheeveningthesoldiersreturned，havingcapturedthedeserter。I
lefthiminironstobekeptathardlabourbythesheikAbbioatLobore，untilIshouldreturntothecountry。Thisisagoodlessontothetroops。”Thenativeshadagranddanceto-day；themenandwomenasusualnaked，leaping，andyellingwildsongstoanextraordinaryaccompanimentofmusic，producedbybeatingalongstickofextremelyhardwoodwithashortstickofthesamesubstance。Someofthegirlswerepretty，butbeingsmearedwithredochreandfat，theywerenotattractive。Thenativeswereverycivil，andalthoughatleastathousandwerepresent，theyimmediatelymaderoomformeuponmyarrival；thatImighthaveagoodplacetowitnesstheirperformance。”
Iwasmuchstruckwithasimplearrangementmadeuseofbytheoldpeopletosupportthebackinlieuofanarm-chair。Eachpersonhadacordknottedbytheendssoastoformanendlesslooporhoop。Thesizedependeduponthemeasurementrequired，sothatifthehoopwerethrownoverthebodywheninasittingpostureupontheground，withthekneesraised，theropewouldformabandaroundtheforepartofthekneesandthesmalloftheback，whichwouldthusbesupported。
TheLoborearegreatworkersiniron，whichisusedgenerallyinthemanufactureofornaments。Largeringsofthismetalarewornroundtheneck，anduponthearmsandankles。Manyoftheseankle-ringsareofextremethickness，andwouldsufficeforthepunishmentofprisoners。I
wasinterestedwiththemechanicalcontrivanceoftheLoborefordetachingtheheavymetalanklets，which，whenhammeredfirmlytogether，appearedtobehopelessfixturesintheabsenceofafile。
Irequiredseveralironstoconstructthemanaclesforthedeserter，thusIhadpurchasedthemassiveornamentswhichhadtobedetachedfromtheanklesoftheowner。
Themansatupontheground。Astickofhard，unyieldingwoodwasthrustthroughtheringbeneaththeankle，sothateachendofthestickrestedontheearth。Amansecuredoneendbystandinguponit，whileanotherplacedastoneuponthestickthussecured，whichheusedasafulcrum。
Theleveremployedwasapieceofabdnoos，whichworkeduponthestone，andpresseddownthebaseoftheringatthesametimethatitopenedthejointsufficientlytoallowittobepassedoverthethinportionoftheleg。
IneversawthisingeniousapplicationoftheleveramongothertribesthantheLobore。TheusualmethodamongtheMadiisfarmoresimple，butrequiresacertainnumberofmen，andplacesthepatientinanuncomfortableposition。Aropeisfastenedtoeachsideofthering，uponwhichanumberofmenhaulinoppositedirectionsuntiltheyhaveopenedthejointsufficientlytodetachitfromtheleg。