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arranged； and； now that they knew the necessity of obedience and
discipline； they had； imperceptibly to themselves； changed from ruffians
into very orderly soldiers。
On the march homewards； upon arrival at the foot of a mountain； I made
an excursion inland； as this was a portion of the country that I had not
yet visited； though only six miles from Gondokoro。 The natives were very
shy； but I at length succeeded in obtaining an interview with their
sheik； a tall powerful fellow； named Meri。 I explained that I required
no corn； nor any supplies； except stone。 （This sheik Meri and his
people always remained faithful to the government from that day。）
The country abounded with pieces of gneiss with a very straight
cleavage； that suited them admirably for building purposes。 All the
granaries of this country were supported upon pillars formed of single
stones； about three feet long。 The houses were also protected by large
flat stones arranged like tiles around the base； and thus securing the
sides from the driven storms of rain。
On 19th November； I returned to Gondokoro highly satisfied with the
result of the campaign。 Not only were my magazines all filled with more
than twelve months' supply of corn； but I had established peace
throughout a large and powerful district； and I had received promises of
assistance； and an assurance of allegiance to the government。
Abou Saood； who had received permission to go to Khartoum； had only gone
down the river as far as his station at the Bohr。 There he had made
arrangements with his people that the ivory from Latooka station； 100
miles east of Gondokoro； should avoid my head…quarters； and be conveyed
by an oblique course to the Bohr。 By this swindle； the government would
be cheated out of the share of two…fifths of the ivory which belonged to
them by contract with Agad & Co。
Abou Saood having personally witnessed the departure of the troops to
Khartoum； considered his game as won； and that the expedition； now
reduced to only 502 officers and men； would be compelled to centralize
at Gondokoro； without the possibility of penetrating the interior。 He
had thus started for his stations in the distant south； where he
intended to incite the natives against the government； to prevent me
from following out my plans with the small force at my disposal。
This was the first time in the career of Abou Saood that he had ever
travelled inland。 He had for many years been in the habit of arriving at
Gondokoro from Khartoum with the annual vessels from Agad & Co。；
bringing new levies of brigands together with fresh supplies of arms and
ammunition。 He then remained at Gondokoro for several weeks； and
received the ivory and slaves collected from his various stations in the
interior with which he returned to Khartoum。
The necessity of the occasion induced him to use much personal activity。
Knowing well the date when my term of service would expire； he had only
one object； in which he had already nearly succeeded；this was to
prevent the possibility of my advance within the given period。
It was therefore necessary for him to visit his stations； and to warn
his people to hold both their slaves and ivory until I should be
withdrawn from Gondokoro by the expiration of my term of service； after
which； he had no doubt that things would quickly return to their former
happy state。 By these means he would be able to cheat the government out
of the two…fifths of all ivory； he would preserve his slaves； and a
judicious present to some high official would reinstate him in his
original position as the greatest slave…hunter of the White Nile； with
the additional kuilos of having battled the Christian Pacha。
I had already written to assure the Khedive that； should my work not be
satisfactorily accomplished at the expiration of my term of service； I
should continue at my post until I could honourably resign the command；
when the government should be firmly established in the interior。
I now devoted every energy to the preparations for starting； together
with the English engineers and the steamer。 Having given the necessary
instructions to the engineer in chief； Mr。 Higginbotham； I had no
anxiety； as I felt sure that everything would be in order。
The carts were to be thoroughly examined； and the No。 3 steamer of 38
tons was to be divided in parcels； the small work secured in loads of
fifty pounds； each sewn up in raw hide； and the heavier portions divided
among the carts。
The officers were now perfectly resigned to their lot。 The remnant of
the Egyptian force had been converted into artillery…men； and all the
Soudanis formed one regiment。
While Mr。 Higginbotham was engaged in the work of arranging and packing；
my masons were busy in making bricks； as I wished eventually to build
the barracks of this solid material； instead of trusting to the
dangerously inflammable straw…huts。 I had already written to England for
sufficient galvanized iron for 3；000 feet of building in actual length。
Although galvanized iron is hot in a tropical climate； it can easily be
protected from the sun by a light framework of canes slightly thatched。
My Soudanis were never overpowered by heat； as they had been born in a
high temperature。
On my return to Gondokoro； I found that Meri's natives had collected a
large quantity of stones； and they had sent to request a vessel to
transport them。 I gave them a cow； and they had a general dance。 This
reception seemed to delight them； and they returned to their villages；
accompanied by a noggur with an officer and twenty men。 I gave strict
orders that no soldier should enter a native hut under any pretext。
The Bari war was over。 Upon every side the natives had been thoroughly
subdued。 I now heard from our Bari interpreters； Sherroom and Morgian；
that the Sheik Allorron was willing to sue for peace； and to declare his
allegiance to the government。
Abou Saood and his people had departed； thus the evil spirit was
withdrawn that had hitherto covertly incited the natives against the
government； and the effect of his absence was immediately apparent。
I devoted my attention to the final preparations for the start； and to
the necessary instructions for the command of the station during my
absence。 The officers found that it was now impossible to resist their
destiny； and Raoul Bey； the colonel； who had； against orders； sent off
so many troops to Khartoum who were in good health； now discovered that
he would be left with a comparatively small force to hold the important
position at head…quarters。
The troops who had been employed under my personal command； were very
anxious to accompany me into the equatorial district。
There was no more fighting。 All my hopes of peace were at length
realized。 The nights were always undisturbed； and the sentries might
have indulged in sleep without the slightest danger。 A dead calm had
succeeded to the excitement of constant watchfulness。
I now employed the 〃Forty Thieves〃 in making salt。 There were peculiar
surface mines within a mile of my little station。 These were situated
upon a sandy loam on the banks of a brackish lake； that swarmed with
crocodiles