Major Abdullah and his detachment broke down through
a premature attack on the part of the natives, who had neither the
courage nor the patience to go to Fatiko on the chance of success in
such a distant enterprise.
Suleiman had written me a letter imploring forgiveness. Wat-el-Mek
arrived at Fatiko after the seizure of the ammunition by
Salim-Wat-Howah, and he begged pardon for Suleiman, assuring me that he
was truly penitent; that the devil had misled him, and Abou Saood was
that devil. If I would grant him a free pardon, no man would be more
faithful; and the irregular force now established would be delighted at
such an act of clemency.
Although Suleiman was a great ruffian, he was like everybody else in
that respect. If I had refused the enlistment of all immoral characters
in the middle of Africa, I should have had what is now known in England
as a "skeleton regiment." I had already punished him severely. In every
case of defiance of the government, the people had seen that so small an
organized force as 200 regulars, amongst innumerable enemies, and
without any communication with head-quarters, had been able to beat down
and crush every enemy, whether native or rebel.
