Epithets in Arabic until we arrived at about a hundred yards
from the foremost stockade. This now opened fire upon us, the natives
being concealed within, and aiming with their muskets between the
interstices of the upright piles.
My riflemen now knelt down and fired at the puffs of smoke as they
issued from the impenetrable ironwood zareebas. This was just the work
that the Baris understood, as their position enabled them to fight
unseen among the numerous stockades and high rocks clothed with bush.
The bullets were whistling merrily, and presently a soldier by my side
was shot through the fleshy part of the hip. I examined him, and saw
that the bullet bad passed through, - therefore he continued firing. A
wife of one of the soldiers was shot through the calf of the leg. She
had accompanied him with a small parcel of cooking-pots and food from
Gondokoro that morning and thus came under fire.
The main body was delayed in the rear, replying to the fire of the Baris
on the other side of the impassable ravine. I had only twenty men with
me in addition to Lieutenant Baker. I therefore ordered the bugler to
sound the "assembly," as I determined to attack the stockades with the
whole force.
