The work and
fatigue in cutting through the obstructions had killed many men, and had
laid the seeds of fatal complaints among many others. The men's hearts
had been broken at the onset. There was even now a feeling of despair of
the possibility of receiving supplies and reinforcements by river from
Khartoum. We appeared to have forsaken the known world, and, having
passed the river Styx, to have become secluded for ever in a wild land
of our own, where all were enemies, like evil spirits, and where it was
necessary either to procure food at the point of the bayonet, or to lie
down and die.
If the White Nile had been the fine, navigable river that I had known in
former years, I believe I should have had no difficulty, as I could have
quickly overcome the scruples of my officers by direct reports of their
conduct to the Khedive; but we were lost to the world almost as
absolutely as though quartered in the moon.
I had proposed, when in Cairo, that steamers should run monthly between
Khartoum and Gondokoro, with the post and all necessary supplies. In
former days this would have been a matter of course, and the fact of a
connection with the Soudan government would have supported discipline;
but the frightful obstructions of the river rendered communication
impossible, except by a regular expedition in large force.
My own heart felt heavy sometimes; but I said nothing. I could easily
appreciate the feelings of others, whose hearts were not actually in
favour of the enterprise.
Nevertheless I commanded, and no matter what the obstacles might be, I
had only one duty.
A new and sad calamity had attacked us. The well-known African
horse-sickness broke out. In spite of every precaution, my horses died.
The disease commenced by an appearance of languor, rapid action of the
heart, scantiness of urine, costiveness, swelling of the forehead above
the eyes, which extended rapidly to the whole head; stiffness and
swelling of the neck, eyes prominent and bloodshot, running at the nose
of foul greenish matter in extraordinary quantities, - convulsions,
death.
My favourite Horse, "The Pig," was attacked. I had anxiously watched him
daily, and one morning I fancied that the usual hollow above the eyes
was rather full. This fatal symptom was too true a warning. He passed
through the usual stages of the complaint, and died on the same day that
he was first attacked.
I had only seven horses remaining out of twenty-one that had started
with me from Cairo. In addition to these, were two horses belonging to
the officers.
The fact of the horses dying added to the unfavourable impression
already in the minds of the officers and troops. In addition to this
calamity, the drought at Gondokoro had been unprecedented.
