The hill of Regiaf, with strict orders that
no soldier was to enter a hut; but they were simply to examine the
villages as they passed through, by tapping the numerous wicker googoos
or granaries with their hands, to prove whether they were full, These
neat little granaries contained generally about forty bushels, but they
varied in size: some would have held more than double that quantity.
The natives watched us in considerable numbers from all points. In this
manner we examined twenty or thirty villages, each of which contained at
least fifteen googoos, nearly all of which were quite full of corn. The
entire country was overflowing with dhurra and sesame. As far as the eye
could reach were innumerable villages, all of which we knew were stores
of abundance, by the samples we had already examined.
From the high land of Regiaf, we looked down upon a long series of rich
islands in the river, that appeared to be nothing but a line of
granaries, as I could distinguish with the telescope the numerous clumps
of googoos and small villages that fringed the fertile banks of these
welcome retreats.
I felt as the Israelites, when the manna and the quails appeared in the
desert. Thank God, we were delivered from the danger of famine, and we
had at length arrived at the Promised Land.
Even the officers, all of whom had signed the declaration "that there
was no corn in the country, therefore they must return to Khartoum,"
looked delighted, and exclaimed "Mashallah!"
I felt the relief, for I had suffered much anxiety; but outwardly I took
it very coolly, and quite as a matter of course. I explained to the
officers and men, that of course they were ignorant of the country, but
that if they relied upon me, I should always lead them ("Inshallah!")
into a land of plenty. The black officers now began to exclaim,
"Wah-Illai! the Pacha knows the country well! Who would have believed
when at Gondokoro that there was corn enough for a couple of years
within a day's march?"
"A couple of years!" cried another; "we couldn't eat this corn in ten
years!"
"We might drink merissa every day in this country," exclaimed others of
the soldiers.
Sailors who have been in danger of shipwreck, with a rocky shore close
on the lea in a heavy gale, may understand the relief offered by a
sudden shift of wind in the moment of extremity. Such experience alone
can allow an appreciation of the mental reaction after a great strain of
anxiety that I had suffered for some time past.
A certain knowledge of human nature determined me to improve, without a
moment's delay, the opportunity, while the troops were under the first
impulse of astonishment and delight.
I addressed myself to the "Forty Thieves" in particular, and to the line
generally, and explained "the pleasure that I felt in now being able to
increase their rations of corn, that had been reduced by half.
