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. The native
cultivation, and that of the troops, had all perished on the light sandy
soil of Gondokoro. Rain had fallen in the vicinity; but this unfortunate
locality is very subject to droughts, as the rain-clouds are attracted
by neighbouring mountains, where they expend themselves. The rich soil
of the river islands will always insure a crop, as the roots penetrate
to a depth where they obtain moisture from the river. As already
described, the troops had worked so badly, that one half of the island
crop had been carried away by birds. Thus, when the harvest was in their
hands, they neglected to gather it; they now complained that nothing
would succeed in Gondokoro.
Abou Saood had not gone to Khartoum, therefore his journey to Belinian
to request my permission to depart, was only a ruse for some purpose at
present unknown.
