And he would (if such establishments existed) be
certainly expelled from his club.
There was no more work undone in my charming Fatiko station. The roads
from the three gates were so far completed as to form respectable
approaches. The gardens had produced abundantly, and the troops were all
in excellent health and good discipline. On Mondays and Fridays they
were exercised at light-infantry drill for several hours. Every man had
his post, which he occupied like lightning when the bugle suddenly
sounded the alarm. The "Forty Thieves" held the rock citadel, as they
could fire over the heads of those in the camp without fear of accident.
The night alarm sounded unexpectedly, and as I went the rounds, every
man was at his quarters without a whisper. The cleanliness and general
order of the camp were perfect.
I now associated with the natives as a hunter. It was in this capacity
that I had first won their hearts many years ago. We were so short of
meat that I began to feel the necessity that first turned the hand of
savage man against the beasts of the forest.
The chase throughout the Shooli country was carried on as a profession,
and was conducted by general rules under an admirable organization.
The favourite method of hunting was by means of nets. Every man in the
country was provided with a net of strong cord. This was twelve yards
long, and about eleven feet deep, if stretched to its maximum. The
meshes were about six inches square. There was no promiscuous
net-hunting, but the chief of the district organized the chase in the
following manner: -
The big nogara was sounded, and the news rapidly spread that an assembly
was desired at the village of their headman. At Fatiko the chief was
Wat-el-Ajoos Omare. A few hours after the drum had summoned the headmen,
natives might be seen approaching from all sides to the appointed spot
at which the council was to be held.
After much talking, it was at length decided that the hunt should take
place upon the manors of certain individuals whose property was
contiguous. The day of the hunt was arranged, and the headmen of the
villages retired to make the necessary arrangements.
Should a chief be hospitably disposed, he would frequently give a grand
entertainment prior to the meet. On such occasions upwards of a thousand
natives would arrive from different villages, in their full-dress
costume, consisting of plumes of ostrich feathers, leopard-skin mantles,
and their faces painted a frightful colour with fresh cow-dung. On these
occasions a large quantity of merissa was consumed, and one or two oxen
were slaughtered, according to the wealth of the person who gave the
festivity.
The sorcerer was an important personage at such entertainments, as it
was necessary to assure good luck by a variety of magic ceremonies, that
would not only protect the hunters from accidents, but would also bring
the wild animals direct into their nets.
At length the day of the hunt had arrived, when several thousand people
would collect at a certain rendezvous, about nine miles distant from
Fatiko, on the Fabbo road, which is the best neighbourhood for game.
At a little before 5 A.M. I started on my solitary but powerful horse,
"Jamoos," accompanied by Lieutenant Baker and Colonel Abd-el-Kader, with
a few soldiers of "The Forty". Gimoro and Shooli, who were renowned
hunters, were always with me when shooting. These excellent men had an
extraordinary affection for each other, and they were well known as
inseparables - the one was rarely seen without the other.
Descending the rocky terrace from the station at Fatiko, we were at once
in the lovely, park-like glades, diversified by bold granite rocks,
among which were scattered the graceful drooping acacias in clumps of
dense foliage.
Crossing the clear, rippling stream, we clambered up the steep bank on
the opposite side, and, after a ride of about a mile and a half, we
gained the water-shed, and commenced a gradual descent towards the west.
We were now joined by numerous people, both men, women and children, all
of whom were bent upon the hunt.
The men carried their nets and spears; the boys were also armed with
lighter weapons, and the very little fellows carried tiny lances, all of
which had been carefully sharpened for the expected game.
The women were in great numbers, and upon that day the villages were
quite deserted. Babies accompanied their mothers, strapped upon their
backs with leathern bands, and protected from the weather by the usual
tortoise-like coverings of gourd-shells. Thus it may be imagined that
the Shooli tribe were born hunters, as they had accompanied the public
hunts from their earliest infancy.
My two boys, Saat and Bellaal, carried spare guns. These fine strong
lads always attended me, and they had become useful gun-bearers. They
were both plucky fellows. Little Amarn had been suffering for more than
twelve months from an ulcerated leg; therefore he was spared from
unnecessary fatigue, and was the pet boy at home.
As we proceeded, the number of natives increased, but there was no noise
or loud talking. Every one appeared thoroughly to understand his duties.
Having crossed the beautiful Un-y-Ame river, we entered the game
country. Extensive prairies, devoid of forest, now stretched before us
in graceful undulations to the base of distant mountains. The country
was watered by numerous clear streams, all of which drained into the
main channel of the Un-y-Ame river, that became a roaring torrent
during the wet season.
We now left the Fabbo path and struck off to our left for several miles,
over ground that had been cleared by burning, which showed in many
directions the crimson fruit of the wild ginger, growing half-exposed
from the earth.
