The natives poured out of their various
stations leaping, brandishing their spears, and gesticulating with
unmistakable actions of hostility.
The river was about 500 yards wide, and in several places the dull, grey
heads of rocks protruded from the surface. We therefore continued to tow
the vessels close to the bank, with a party marching parallel to protect
the flank in case of a sudden attack.
The natives evidently intended to oppose us. I always gave the Baris a
fair chance, and allowed them to make the first hostile move before I
proceeded to forcible measures. I therefore landed and advanced a few
hundred paces inland. There were many curious rocks in this
neighbourhood, some of which were clean blocks of granite in masses of
forty or fifty feet high, piled roughly as though arranged artificially.
The natives, as we advanced, moved gradually towards this shelter, in
which they squatted until we arrived within a hundred and twenty paces.
My interpreter now conversed with them, saying that I had not come to
fight, but to purchase corn, that I would give them a cow for each
googoo full of unthrashed dhurra: this was the usual price when the
natives traded among themselves.
In reply to this polite assurance, they used most insulting language,
and said - "You need not offer us your cattle, as we intend to take them
by force; therefore, be off to Khartoum!"
By this time I had advanced with the interpreter to within a hundred
yards of them.
