Of Course I Thanked Koorshid For His
Good-Will, And Explained That I Should Not Think Of Intruding Myself
Upon His Party, But That At The Same Time They Should Not Drive Me Out
Of The Country.
I had abundance of stores and ammunition, and now that
my men had deserted me, I had sufficient corn
To supply my small party
for twelve months; I had also a quantity of garden-seeds, that I had
brought with me in the event of becoming a prisoner in the country; I
should therefore make a zareeba or camp at Gondokoro, and remain there
until I should receive men and supplies in the following season. I now
felt independent, having preserved my depot of corn. I was at least
proof against famine for twelve months. Koorshid endeavoured to persuade
me that my party of only a man and a boy would be certainly insulted and
attacked by the insolent natives of the Bari tribe should I remain alone
at Gondokoro after the departure of the traders' parties. I told him
that I preferred the natives to the traders' people, and that I was
resolved; I merely begged him to lend me one of his little slave boys as
an interpreter, as I had no means of communicating with the natives.
This he promised to do.
After Koorshid's departure, we sat silently for some minutes, both my
wife and I occupied by the same thoughts.
No expedition had ever been more carefully planned; everything had been
well arranged to insure success.
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