Those who had been slaves liberated by
me from the traders' vessels at Tewfikeeyah, had learnt their duties,
and had become very useful. My wife had trained some nice girls of
seventeen or eighteen to household duties, in addition to half a dozen
excellent boys, who were all neatly clothed, and kept in admirable
discipline. Among these was the Abyssinian boy, "Amam," who had lately
received his freedom. He was a pretty little lad, and his brown
complexion looked quite light in comparison with his coal-black
comrades. The Abyssinian blood showed in strong contrast to the negro
type around him, and he was far superior in intelligence to any of the
Central Africans.
The girls were under old Karka, who had been with us throughout our
former journey. This old woman was very proud because I had given 12 to
purchase her freedom in Khartoum. She was a good old soul, but
wonderfully fond of fine clothes; and on great occasions she always
turned out in clouds of snowy muslin with red edges and fringe, like a
young Abyssinian beauty. It was amusing to see her emerge from her hut
in full costume, her broad, flat face beaming with smiles in happy
consciousness of universal admiration.
Old Karka was a sort of duenua to watch over the morals of the younger
girls, and to see that they did not become too "fast"; but I believe
that even the heart of Karka beat high when a certain corporal of the
gallant "Forty Thieves" passed by. Old Karka was actually accused of
sending presents of food, carefully cooked by her own hands, to the
house of this same corporal, Abdullah, thus appealing to his stomach,
which is the direct road to the heart, in African courtship. The younger
girls and the boys of the establishment exclaimed, "Mashallah! Old
Karka! who would have believed it?"
It was curious to observe the difference between my station and that of
head-quarters at Gondokoro: at one, all was contentment and good order;
in the other, discontent and disorder.
I had constant complaints from Mr. Higginbotham that my orders, that he
should be supplied with men for public works, were disobeyed, and that
every obstacle was thrown in his way.
My Englishmen had been, as usual, very industrious and having erected
the iron magazines, they were now engaged in building a flat-bottomed
barge to assist in transporting corn from the islands south of Regiaf.
They had not been in the best health, but they nevertheless continued to
work with an energy and spirit that were a delightful contrast to the
sluggishness and apathy of the Egyptians.
Immediately on my return from Belinian, I had given orders that thirty
vessels should be prepared to return to Khartoum.
I had not returned these vessels earlier, as I required all the sailors
to assist in building the station, and in collecting corn for the
troops. At this season (October) the Nile was at its maximum, therefore
I hoped there would be no difficulty in the return voyage to Khartoum
with empty vessels, and the stream in their favour. Had I returned them
earlier, I should have been obliged to victual them for a four months'
voyage, at a time when corn was extremely scarce. The sailors had now
assisted us in our work, and they would not require provisions for more
than two months, as the Nile was full.
Every arrangement that I had made had been most carefully considered.
There can be no doubt that the greatest enemy to the expedition was the
White Nile. This adverse river had given a serious check. The work and
fatigue in cutting through the obstructions had killed many men, and had
laid the seeds of fatal complaints among many others. The men's hearts
had been broken at the onset. There was even now a feeling of despair of
the possibility of receiving supplies and reinforcements by river from
Khartoum. We appeared to have forsaken the known world, and, having
passed the river Styx, to have become secluded for ever in a wild land
of our own, where all were enemies, like evil spirits, and where it was
necessary either to procure food at the point of the bayonet, or to lie
down and die.
If the White Nile had been the fine, navigable river that I had known in
former years, I believe I should have had no difficulty, as I could have
quickly overcome the scruples of my officers by direct reports of their
conduct to the Khedive; but we were lost to the world almost as
absolutely as though quartered in the moon.
I had proposed, when in Cairo, that steamers should run monthly between
Khartoum and Gondokoro, with the post and all necessary supplies. In
former days this would have been a matter of course, and the fact of a
connection with the Soudan government would have supported discipline;
but the frightful obstructions of the river rendered communication
impossible, except by a regular expedition in large force.
My own heart felt heavy sometimes; but I said nothing. I could easily
appreciate the feelings of others, whose hearts were not actually in
favour of the enterprise.
Nevertheless I commanded, and no matter what the obstacles might be, I
had only one duty.
A new and sad calamity had attacked us. The well-known African
horse-sickness broke out. In spite of every precaution, my horses died.
The disease commenced by an appearance of languor, rapid action of the
heart, scantiness of urine, costiveness, swelling of the forehead above
the eyes, which extended rapidly to the whole head; stiffness and
swelling of the neck, eyes prominent and bloodshot, running at the nose
of foul greenish matter in extraordinary quantities, - convulsions,
death.
