Upon the Koran, that in firing at me "they had only
obeyed the orders of Abou Saood, who had instructed them to attack me
and the government troops should I attempt to interfere with their
proceedings."
Wat-el-Mek declared upon oath that he had always wished to serve me, but
he had been prevented by Abou Saood and others; and he had now been
rightly punished. This, he said, was "God's hand." He had been in
countless fights with natives during many years, and he was possessed of
powerful charms and spells, including numerous verses from the Koran
suspended from his arms: these had always protected him until the day
when he had raised his hand against the government. His charms had at
once failed him, and he had lost both his finger and the gun with which
he had fired at me.
My officers and soldiers really believed that I had purposely cut his
finger off, and smashed his gun by a rifle shot, to prove to him what I
could accomplish with a rifle; and thus to warn a man who would be
useful to me, instead of killing him.
Wat-el-Mek now offered to swear upon the Koran fidelity and allegiance
if I would pardon him; and he would at once prove his sincerity by
raising an irregular corps.
This man was a curious character; his superstitious nature had been
seized with the conviction that his present position was a special
visitation of divine wrath. He was a courageous fellow, and he knew the
country and the natives better than any man living. I had always wished
to engage his services, and I considered this an excellent opportunity.
The officers now begged me to forgive him. He was led away to a stream
of clear water, where he went through the process of washing with a cake
of soap, which was sorely needed. He was then dressed in clean clothes
that were lent to him for that purpose, and the Koran was brought and
laid open at a particular passage.
Placing his wounded hand upon the page, he repeated with great devotion
the formal oath. (Wat-el-Mek always behaved well from that time.)
I now gave him a few words of good advice, encouraging his preconceived
idea that God had chastised him specially, and that the future would
depend upon his own conduct.
Having thus secured this valuable man, whom I had always wished to
engage at the commencement of the expedition, there was much to be done,
and it will be necessary to make a few extracts from my journal that
will better explain the position: -
"August 5, 1872. - I ought to hang Abou Saood, but much diplomacy is
necessary. The rebels in their three stations, Fabbo, Faloro, and
Farragenia number about 600, exclusive of armed Baris.
