按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Unyoro。
On 3rd March； we marched at 6 A。M。； and continued along the plain
towards the rising ground that led to Shooa。 At six miles from the
halting place we took bearings：
Shooa hill； about 35 miles distant； bearing 162 1/2 degrees Akiko hill
about 16 miles distant； bearing 321 1/2 degrees Gebel Kuku about 9 miles
distant； 299 1/2 degrees
Our course lay towards the S。S。E。； beneath a wall…like range of
precipitous rocky hills upon our left； in no place higher than 200 feet。
The guides were at fault； and no water could be found upon the road。
A herd of tetel （Antelope Bubalis） upon our right tempted me； and；
jumping off my horse； I made a fair stalk and killed a fine beast with
the 〃Dutchman〃 at 210 yards。
Every one was thirsty； as the sun was hot； and the wall…like； rocks upon
our left reflected the heat。 At length we discovered natives squatting
upon the very summits of the perpendicular cliffs； and after some
trouble we succeeded in coaxing them down。 Two of these people
volunteered to lead us to water； and they took us to a steep rocky
ravine； in the bottom of which was a pool of dirty liquid that had been
bathed in by wild buffaloes。 My men quickly began to dig sand…wells with
their hands； until the main body of the troops and cattle arrived。
In about an hour； I heard a great hubbub； with a noise of quarrelling
and shouting； every one was running towards the spot。 It appeared that a
wild buffalo； being ignorant of our arrival； had suddenly visited his
drinking…place； and had thoughtlessly descended the deep and narrow
gorge to drink his evening draught。 The Lobores had espied him； and they
immediately rushed down and overwhelmed him with lances from the cliffs
above。 There was now an extraordinary scene over the carcase； four
hundred men scrambling over a mass of blood and entrails； fighting and
tearing with each other； and cutting off pieces of flesh with their
lance…heads； with which they escaped as dogs may retreat with a stolen
bone。
On 4th March we started at 6。25 A。M。 The advent of the buffalo was a sad
misfortune； as it had supplied the natives with sufficient flesh to feed
them on the road home； thus thirty Lobores had absconded during the
night。
Fortunately we had already consumed many loads of flour。 I was now
obliged to divide two days rations among the troops as extra weight。 The
light loads were then doubled。 Brandy boxes of twelve bottles were now
lashed together； so as to form a load of twenty…four。 Several boxes of
gin had been entirely destroyed by the savage carriers； who had allowed
them to fall upon the rocks。
Having crossed the bends of the Un…y…Ame river twice； we halted for the
night in fine open forest on the south bank； beneath a large
tamarind…tree； that yielded an abundant supply of fruit for all hands。
We had only marched ten miles； owing to the delay occasioned by the
desertion of the carriers。
On 5th March I led the way； as the Lobore guide professed ignorance of
the route to Fatiko。 The fact was； that the Lobores had wished on the
previous day to take me to Farragenia； which is two days nearer than
Fatiko。 Had I been ignorant of the country； we should have been
deceived。
I steered through low open forest； the leaves of which had been scorched
off by the fire that had cleared the country。 Neither a village nor the
print of a human foot could be seen。 This beautiful district that had
formerly abounded in villages had been depopulated by the slave…hunters。
Having taken the Shooa mountain for a steering point； we reached the
spot where in former years I had passed five months in the camp of
Ibrahim。 This also had been destroyed； in addition to all the numerous
villages of the mountain。 We had marched fourteen miles。
I gave orders that on the morrow all the troops were to appear in their
best uniforms； as we were only six miles from Fatiko； the principal
station； where I fully expected to meet Abou Saood himself。
CHAPTER XVI。
ARRIVAL AT FATIKO。
ON 6th March； 1872； we started from the bivouac at the base of the Shooa
mountain at 6。10 A。M。
The troops were in excellent spirits； the air was fresh and cool in this
elevated country； the horses had been well groomed； and the arms and
accoutrements had been burnished on the previous afternoon； in order to
make a good appearance before my old friends the natives of Fatiko and
Shooa。
The bright scarlet uniforms and snow…white linen trousers of 212 men
looked extremely gay upon the fresh green grass； which had lately sprung
up throughout this beautiful park。
There was no enemy in this country。 From a former residence of five
months at Shooa； both my wife and myself were well known to the
inhabitants； and I felt sure that our arrival would be hailed with
gladness。 In my former visit I had been a successful hunter； and had
always given the flesh to the natives； thus； as the road to a negro's
heart is through his stomach； I knew that my absence must have been
felt； and that the recollections of past times would be savoury and
agreeable。
I had with me a herd of 1；078 cows and 194 sheep。 No guard was
necessary； and I intrusted the stock to the care of the three boatmen；
and my Bari interpreter； Morgian。
The line of march was thus arranged：Myself； with my wife and
Lieutenant Baker； on horseback in advance； preceded by the guard of five
of the 〃Forty Thieves。〃 Then came Colonel Abd…el…Kader and the remaining
forty…three； composing the gallant 〃Forty。〃 After which came the
regiment； all necessarily in single file。 Then came the baggage with 400
carriers； followed by the herd of cattle。
All our boys were dressed in their scarlet uniforms； and the girls and
women generally had dressed in their best clothes。 Little Cuckoo as
usual carried my small travelling…bag upon his head； and kept his line
with the other boys； all of whom assumed an air that was intended to be
thoroughly regimental。
In this order the march commenced。 The distance was only six miles。 This
was as lovely a route as could be conceived。
Magnificent trees （acacias）； whose thick； dark foliage drooped near the
ground； were grouped in clumps； springing from the crevices between huge
blocks of granite。 Brooks of the purest water rippled over the time…worn
channels cut through granite plateaux； and as we halted to drink at the
tempting stream； the water tasted as cold as though from an European
spring。
The entire country on our left was a succession of the most beautiful
rocky undulations and deep verdant glades； at the bottom of which flowed
perennial streams。 The banks of these rivulets were richly clothed with
ornamental timber； the green foliage contrasting strongly with the dark
grey blocks of granite resembling the ruins of ancient towers。
We travelled along a kind of hog's back； which formed the watershed to
the west。 As we ascended； until we reached a large plateau of clean
granite of about two acres； we broke upon a magnificent panorama； which
commanded an extensive view of the whole country。
On the west； we looked down upon the plains through which we had
arrived； and the view stretched far away beyond the Nile； until it met
the