There
is only one method of travelling successfully, and this necessitates the
introduction of transport animals, where the baggage is heavy and upon
an extensive scale.
I felt perfectly helpless. My colonel, Abd-el-Kader, advised me to seize
the sheik, Bedden, and to tie him up until his people should have
delivered all the effects at Lobore.
This I might have done, but it might also have occasioned war, which
would prevent the possibility of securing carriers. I should also incur
the responsibility of having provoked the war by an act which, although
necessary, could hardly be justified according to civilized ideas.
I had very little hope, but I had so frequently seen a sudden ray of
good fortune when all had looked dark and cloudy, that I went to bed at
night trusting that something might turn up in our favour to-morrow.
On 29th January, 1872, Pittia returned with bad news. Bedden had sent me
a laconic message that "he should not call again, and that his people
declined to carry the baggage."
Pittia explained that the natives had all left the neighbourhood
together with their sheik, therefore it would be well not to allow the
soldiers to stray far from camp.
