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of sawyers were at work； and in a few days the keel of a new boat was
laid down。
The chief mechanical engineer； Mr。 McWilliam； was engaged in setting up
the steam saw…mills； and in a few weeks after our first arrival in this
uninhabited wilderness； the change appeared magical。 In addition to the
long rows of white tents； and the permanent iron magazines； were
hundreds of neat huts arranged in exact lines； a large iron workshop
containing lathes； drilling machines； and small vertical saw machine；
next to this the blacksmith's bellows roared； and the constant sound of
the hammer and anvil betokened a new life in the silent forests of the
White Nile。 There were several good men who had received a European
mechanical education among those I had brought from Egypt； these were
now engaged with the English engineers in repairing the engine of the
No。 10 steamer； which required a new piston。 I ordered a number of very
crooked bill…hooks to be prepared for cutting the tangled vegetation
during our next voyage。 The first boat； about sixteen feet long； was
progressing； and the entire station was a field of industry。 The gardens
were green with vegetables； and everything would have been flourishing
had the troops been in good health。 Those miserable Egyptians appeared
to be in a hopeless condition morally。 It was impossible to instil any
spirit into them； and if sick； they at once made up their minds to die。
It is to be hoped that my regiment of convicts was not a fair sample of
the spirit and intelligence of the Egyptian fellah。 Some of them
DESERTED。
There is an absurd prejudice among the men that the grinding of flour
upon the usual flat millstone is an unmanly task that should always be
performed by a woman。 This is a very ancient prejudice； if we may judge
by the symbols found upon the flat millstones of the ancient Egyptians。
We also hear in the Testament； 〃two women shall be grinding together；
one shall be taken； the other left。〃 There was a scarcity of women in
our station； and the grinding of the corn would have given rise to much
discontent had I not experienced this difficulty in a former voyage； and
provided myself with steel corn…mills。 I had one of these erected for
each company of troops； and in addition to the usual labour； I always
sentenced men under punishment to so many hours at the mill。
Although this country was exceedingly rich in soil； it was entirely
uninhabited on our side （the east） of the river。 This had formerly been
the Dinka country； but it had been quite depopulated by razzias made for
slaves by the former and present governors of Fashoda。 These raids had
been made on a large scale； with several thousand troops； in addition to
the sharp slave…hunters； the Baggara Arabs； as allies。 The result was
almost the extermination of the Dinka tribe。 It seemed incomprehensible
to the Shillook natives that a government that had only lately made
slave…hunting a profession should suddenly turn against the
slave…hunters。
I frequently rode on horseback about the country； and wherever I found a
spot slightly raised above the general level； I was sure to discover
quantities of broken pottery； the vestiges of villages； which had at a
former time been numerous。 There was very little game； but now and then
ostriches were seen stalking about the yellow plains of withered grass。
On one occasion I was riding with Lieutenant Baker； accompanied by a few
orderlies； when I distinguished the forms of several ostriches at a
great distance。 They were feeding on the flat plain where it was
hopeless to attempt an approach。 I was just replacing my telescope； when
I observed an ostrich emerge from behind some bushes； about 400 yards'
distance。 This was a male bird； by the black colour； and it appeared to
be feeding towards the scattered bush on my left。 We were at the moment
partially concealed by the green foliage。 I immediately dismounted； and
leaving the party behind the bushes； I ran quickly forward； always
concealed by the thick thorns； until I thought I must be somewhere
within shot； unless the bird had discovered me and escaped without my
knowledge。 I now went cautiously and slowly forward； stooping under the
bushes when necessary； and keeping a good look out on all sides； as I
expected that the ostrich must be somewhere in the jungle。 At length； as
I turned round a clump of thick thorns； I sighted the bird racing away
with immense speed straight from me at about 130 yards。 I raised the
150…yard sight of the Dutchman； and taking him very steadily； as the
bird kept a perfectly straight course； I fired。 The ostrich at once fell
with so great a shock upon the hard； parched ground； that the air was
full of feathers。 I stepped 130 long paces； and found that the bullet
had struck the bird in the centre of the back； killing it instantly。 My
party came up to my whistle； and I despatched a mounted orderly to camp
to bring men and donkeys。
Although I have been many years in Africa； this was the first and the
last ostrich that I have ever bagged。 It was a very fine male； and the
two thighs and legs were a very fair load for a strong donkey。
I have seen erroneous accounts of ostriches designated as two varieties；
the black and the grey。 The black； with white feathers in the wings and
tail； is simply the male； and the grey the female。 The feathers of this
bird were old and in bad order。 The fat is much esteemed by the Arabs as
an external application for rheumatism。 I found the stomach rich in
scorpions； beetles； leaves of trees； and white rounded quartz pebbles。
The bird must have come from a considerable distance as there was
neither rock nor pebble in the neighbourhood。
On my return to camp I carved an artificial ostrich head from a piece of
wood； and made false eyes with the neck of a wine bottle。 I intended to
stick this head upon a pole； concealed in a linen fishing rod case； and
to dress up my cap with thick plumes of ostrich feathers。 I have no
doubt that it would be possible to approach ostriches in grass by this
imitation； as the pole would be carried in the left hand； and all the
movements of the ostriches might be easily imitated。 The pole in the
left hand rested on the ground would make a good rest for the rifle when
the moment arrived for the shot。
Heavy rains set in； and the hitherto dry plains became flooded and
swampy； thus I never had an opportunity to try my false ostrich。
The Shillooks were now become our fast friends。 The camp was crowded
daily with natives who came by water from a considerable distance to
traffic with the soldiers。 Like all negroes； they were sharp traders；
with a Jewish tendency in their bargains。 They brought raw cotton and
provisions of all kinds in exchange for cotton manufactures and iron。
Their country consists simply of rich alluvial soil； therefore all iron
must be imported； and it is of great value。 The best articles of
exchange for this country would be pieces of wrought iron of about four
ounces in weight and six inches long； and pieces of eight ounces； and
eight inches in length。 Also cotton cloth； known as grey calico；
together with white calico； and other cheap manufactures。 The