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and they had followed my instructions by leaving cows for payment at
every night's halting…place。
I now divided the flour into loads of sixty pounds each； packed in
baskets covered with raw hide。
I thus carried 3；600 lbs。 by sixty porters。 My troops were now relieved
from much weight； as I engaged 500 natives for the journey to the
interior； at the same time I ordered every soldier to carry six pounds
of flour in addition to his knapsack and accoutrements。 Every one of my
men was provided with a small tanned goatskin stripped from the animal
（like a stocking from the leg） and secured at one end like a bag。 These
little chorabs； or travelling sacks； were most convenient； and were well
adapted for carrying flour； as they were easily strapped to the top of
the knapsack。
I lost no time in preparing for a move forward。 Wani the interpreter was
invaluable； as he superintended all the arrangements necessary for
collecting the carriers。
The cattle were confined within the kraal waiting for selection。 About
1；000 natives assembled； and they were allowed to enter the zareeba and
choose their cows； in parties of four at one time； to prevent confusion。
This was a tedious operation； as the Lobore carriers were almost as
particular in their selection of cattle as ladies are supposed to be in
the choice of their dresses。
February 27。The Lobore were exceedingly quiet and orderly in their
conduct； and 500 cows having been received by as many natives； they
returned to their homes to make arrangements for the journey to Fatiko。
I find the following extract in my journal of this date ：
〃The Lobore will be useful allies as they are enemies of the Bari； and
their country is well situated； lying between Bari and Madi； on the
route to Fatiko； thus they will be ready as carriers for both ends of
the line。
〃If I can obtain eighty camels from Khartoum； I can get the steamer
along without any serious difficulty； as the Lobore natives can be
engaged to make the road； but nothing can prosper until a regular camel
transport service shall be established。
〃I am sadly in want of troops and European officers。 There should be 200
men in four parties stationed at intervals along the line to direct the
natives in opening the road。
〃A soldier deserted and ran away with his arms and ammunition to some
distant village。 I immediately called Wani and the old sheik Abbio； to
whom I explained that I should hold them responsible if the deserter
were not captured。 They sent out natives in all directions in search。
〃February 28。The natives returned； saying they had found the deserter
about half a march distant； but they could not seize him alive； as he
threatened to shoot them； at the same time they were afraid to kill him；
as he was my soldier。
〃I immediately sent a sergeant and three men of 'The Forty' to take him
prisoner。
〃In the evening the soldiers returned； having captured the deserter。 I
left him in irons to be kept at hard labour by the sheik Abbio at
Lobore； until I should return to the country。 This is a good lesson to
the troops。
〃The natives had a grand dance to…day； the men and women as usual naked；
leaping； and yelling wild songs to an extraordinary accompaniment of
music； produced by beating a long stick of extremely hard wood with a
short stick of the same substance。 Some of the girls were pretty； but
being smeared with red ochre and fat； they were not attractive。 The
natives were very civil； and although at least a thousand were present；
they immediately made room for me upon my arrival； that I might have a
good place to witness their performance。〃
I was much struck with a simple arrangement made use of by the old
people to support the back in lieu of an arm…chair。 Each person had a
cord knotted by the ends so as to form an endless loop or hoop。 The size
depended upon the measurement required； so that if the hoop were thrown
over the body when in a sitting posture upon the ground； with the knees
raised； the rope would form a band around the forepart of the knees and
the small of the back； which would thus be supported。
The Lobore are great workers in iron； which is used generally in the
manufacture of ornaments。 Large rings of this metal are worn round the
neck； and upon the arms and ankles。 Many of these ankle…rings are of
extreme thickness； and would suffice for the punishment of prisoners。 I
was interested with the mechanical contrivance of the Lobore for
detaching the heavy metal anklets； which； when hammered firmly together；
appeared to be hopeless fixtures in the absence of a file。
I required several irons to construct the manacles for the deserter；
thus I had purchased the massive ornaments which had to be detached from
the ankles of the owner。
The man sat upon the ground。 A stick of hard； unyielding wood was thrust
through the ring beneath the ankle； so that each end of the stick rested
on the earth。 A man secured one end by standing upon it； while another
placed a stone upon the stick thus secured； which he used as a fulcrum。
The lever employed was a piece of abdnoos； which worked upon the stone；
and pressed down the base of the ring at the same time that it opened
the joint sufficiently to allow it to be passed over the thin portion of
the leg。
I never saw this ingenious application of the lever among other tribes
than the Lobore。 The usual method among the Madi is far more simple； but
requires a certain number of men； and places the patient in an
uncomfortable position。 A rope is fastened to each side of the ring；
upon which a number of men haul in opposite directions until they have
opened the joint sufficiently to detach it from the leg。
On 29th February we were ready for the start。 The loads were all
prepared and arranged in separate divisions of twenty each； under the
charge of selected officers and men。
The big nogara had sounded； the natives collected； and each man stood by
his load； thus twenty…five gangs of twenty each should have stood in
line。
I now discovered that the vaunted honesty of the Lobore was of the same
order as that of other negroes。 Five hundred cows had been given to as
many natives； for all of which the sheik Abbio had declared himself
responsible。 The big nogara sounded in vain。 After waiting for some
hours； and sending numerous messengers to as many villages； only 433
carriers could be mustered； thus sixty…seven had eloped with as many
cows！
No one can imagine the trouble of such a journey with so long a retinue
of carriers； most of whom are dishonest； and only seek an opportunity to
abscond upon the road。
The Lobore are immensely powerful men； and they carried the boxes of
Hale's rockets as single loads； although weighing upwards of seventy…two
pounds。 At the same time they quarrelled among themselves as to the
choice of parcels； and I could with difficulty prevail upon them to
carry the zinc boat； although it did not exceed 130 lbs。 Four men
actually refused to touch it； as it sat uneasily upon their heads。
This handy little vessel was made of zinc upon an iron framework； and
would contain four people upon a pinch； but would easily convey three
across a river。