Fortunately For Both, It Was Thought Necessary For The
Turks To Keep On Good Terms With The Father As An Influential
Man; And Therefore, On Receiving The Tusk, Mahamed Gave Back The
Girl, And Added A Cow To Seal Their Friendship.
6th to 10th.
- I saw this land-pirate Mahamed take a blackmail
like a negro chief. Some men who had fled from their village
when Mahamed's plundering party passed by them the other day,
surprised that he did not stop to sack their homes, now brought
ten large tusks of ivory to him to express the gratitude they
said they felt for his not having molested them. Mahamed, on
finding how easy it was to get taxes in this fashion, instead of
thanking them, assumed the air of the great potentate, whose
clemency was abused, and told the poor creatures that, though
they had done well in seeking his friendship, they had not
sufficiently considered his dignity, else they would have brought
double that number of tusks, for it was impossible he could be
satisfied at so low a price. "What," said these poor creatures,
"can we do then? for this is all we have got." "Oh," says
Mahamed, "if it is all you have got now in store, I will take
these few for the present; but when I return from Gondokoro, I
expect you will bring me just as many more. Good-bye, and look
out for yourselves."
Tired beyond all measure with Mahamed's procrastination, as I
could not get him to start, I now started myself, much to his
disgust, and went ahead again, leaving word that I would wait for
him at the next place, provided he did not delay more than one
day. The march led us over long rolling downs of grass, where we
saw a good many antelopes feeding; and after going ten miles, we
came, among other villages, to one named Panyoro, in which we
found it convenient to put up. At first all the villagers,
thinking us Turks, bolted away with their cattle and what stores
they could carry; but, after finding out who we were, they
returned again, and gave us a good reception, helping us to rig
up a shed with grass, and bringing a cow and some milk for our
dinner.
12th. - To-day I went out shooting, but though I saw and fired at
a rhinoceros, as well as many varieties of antelopes, I did not
succeed in killing one head. All my men were surprised as well
as myself; and the villagers who were escorting me in the hope of
getting flesh, were so annoyed at their disappointment, they
offered to cut my fore-finger with a spear and spit on it for
good-luck. Joining in their talk, I told them the powder must be
crooked; but, on inspecting my rifle closer, I found that the
sights had been knocked on one side a little, and this created a
general laugh at all in turn. Going home from the shooting, I
found all the villagers bolting again with their cattle and
stores, and, on looking towards Faloro, saw a party of Turks
coming.
As well as I could I reassured the villagers, and brought them
back again, when they said to me, "Oh, what have you done? We
were so happy yesterday when we found out who you were, but now
we see you have brought those men, all our hearts have sunk
again; for they beat us, they make us carry their loads, and they
rob us in such a manner, we know not what to do." I told them I
would protect them if they would keep quiet; and, when the Turks
came, I told them what I had said to the head man. They were the
vanguard of Mahamed's party, and said they had orders to march on
as far as Apuddo with me, where we must all stop for Mahamed,
who, as well as he could, was collecting men. There was a
certain tree near Apuddo which was marked by an Englishman two
years ago, and this, Mahamed thought, would keep us amused.
The next march brought us to Paira, a collection of villages
within sight of the Nile. It was truly ridiculous; here had we
been at Faloro so long, and yet could not make out what had
become of the Nile. In appearance it was a noble stream, flowing
on a flat bed from west to east, and immediately beyond it were
the Jbl (hills) Kuku, rising up to a height of 2000 feet above
the river. Still we could not make out all, until the following
day, when we made a march parallel to the Nile, and arrived at
Jaifi.
This was a collection of huts close to a deep nullah which drains
The central portions of Eastern Madi. At this place the Turks
killed a crocodile and ate him on the spot, much to the amusement
of my men, who immediately shook their heads, laughingly, and
said, "Ewa, Allah! are these men, then, Mussulmans? Savages in
our country don't much like a crocodile."
After crossing two nullahs, we reached Apuddo, and at once, I
went to see the tree said to have been cut by an Englishman some
time before. There, sure enough, was a mark, something like the
letters M. I., on its bark, but not distinct enough to be
ascertained, because the bark had healed up. In describing the
individual who had done this, the Turks said he was exactly like
myself, for he had a long beard, and a voice even much resembling
mine. He came thus far with Mahamed from Gondokoro two years
ago, and then returned, because he was alarmed at the accounts
the people gave of the countries to the southward, and he did not
like the prospect of having to remain a whole rainy season with
Mahamed at Faloro. He knew we were endeavouring to come this way,
and directed Mahamed to point out his name if we did so.
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