They had also captured the cattle.
Although Tayib Agha had about 280 men, he actually retreated and dared
not attack the natives to recover either the bodies of his men or their
muskets! (The lieutenant who commanded the unfortunate detachment was
killed while defending himself bravely to the last. In addition to the
twenty-eight soldiers, two Bari interpreters were also killed, making a
total loss of thirty.)
I at once determined to leave Major Abdullah as commandant at Fatiko,
and to take Tayib Agha back to Gondokoro, as he was not fit for an
independent command.
The immense delay in sending up the reinforcements had been occasioned
by the long voyage from Khartoum.
When Wat-el-Mek had reached Gondokoro, the troops HAD NOT ARRIVED from
Khartoum; therefore he was obliged to wait.
When at length they did arrive, they had been THIRTEEN MONTHS on the
voyage to Gondokoro, and had passed the rainy season with the
slave-traders in the camp of Kutchuk Ali on the Bahr Giraffe; this river
they reported as navigable, owing to my canals, which had continued
open.
It was the old story of delay and indolence, unless I was personally
present to force them forward.
I had now 620 men, therefore I reinforced Rionga and the various
stations.
