第32章

Thenatives，smartingundertheunprovokedattack，visitedNiambore，anddesiredhimtosendmymenoutofthecountry，astheywereevidentlyleaguedwiththoseofAbouSaood。ThesheikNiamborerefused，anddeclaredthatheshouldprotectthemuntilhereceivedfurtherordersfromme。ThisimplicatedNiambore，andtheneighbourstheninsisteduponthesacrificeofAchmetRafikandhisfewsoldiersinrevengefortheirlostcattle。Niambore，withachivalrythatisrareamongnegroes，declaredhisdeterminationofshelteringmypeopleuntilheshouldcommunicatewithme。Hewasattackedatnightbytheneighbouringsheiks；andmysoldiersassistedhiminthedefence。Theattackwasrepulsed，andhedeterminedtoreturnthecomplimentonthefollowingday，withtheassistanceofthesoldiers。Afteralongmarchacrossmanydeepchannels，thebattlewentagainsthim，andinaprecipitateretreat，thesoldierscouldnotswimthedeepchannelslikeNiambore’speople；theywereaccordinglyovertakenandkilled，withthelossoftheirarmsandaccoutrements，nowinpossessionofthenatives。

MajorAchmetRafikandacorporalweresafe，astheywerebothill，andhadthereforenotaccompaniedthefivesoldiersintheattack。Niamborehadfaithfullyexposedhimselftogreatdangerinordertosecuretheirprotection，andtheywerenowinhiskeeping，concealedinaforestaboutaday’smarchfromthevillagewhichhadbeentheirstation。

OnthefollowingdayIsentthesteameroffat9p。m。withNiamboreandtwentymen，themoonbeingfull。Theriverhadrisenaboutfourfeetsixinches，thereforetherewasnofearofhertouchingasand-bank。AtthesametimeIwrotetoAbouSaood，givinghimnoticeofhisresponsibilityforthelossofthegovernmenttroops，causedbyhisunprovokedandunjustifiableaggression。(Fromthattime，IofcoursegaveupallideasofreturningthecattlethathadbeencapturedbyAbouSaood，asI

hadoriginallyintended。Suchanact，afterthedestructionofmymen，wouldhavebeenreceivedbytheShirasaproofoffear。)

Allmyanticipationsofsuccessfulcultivationhadbeenfruitless。Thedroughtofthisyearhadcausedageneralscarcity。ThemonthsofJulyandAugustshouldhavetheheaviestrainfall；Julyhadjustexpiredwitharainfallofonly1。13inch。Themeantemperaturehadbeen71degreesF

at6a。m。；atnoon，84degreesF。

Iwasveryanxiousaboutoursupplyofdhurra，whichwouldnotlastmuchlonger。On1stAugustIorderedthetroopstoreceivefifteendays’

rationsofrice，soastosavethesmallstockofdhurrauntilthecropsshouldberipeupontheisland。Thesewereguardedbyacompanyoftroops。Iextractthefollowingentryfrommyjournal：-”August2，1871——TheSoudanisoldiersarediscontentedwiththeirrationsofdhurra；andto-dayIwasaddressedbyanunreasonablemob，demandinganincreaseofcornwhichdoesnotexist。Thesepeopleneverthinkofto-morrow，andduringthelongvoyagefromTewfikeeyahtheyhavebeenstealingthecorn，anddrinkingmerissaheedlessofthefuture。”Theblackcolonel，TayibAgha，ismuchtoblameforthediscontent，ashehas，uponseveraloccasions，inTHEPRESENCEOFTHETROOPS，toldMr。

Higginbothamandmyselfthat’themencouldnotworkwellbecausetheywerehungry。’Thisfoolishremark，madebeforethesoldiersbytheirownlieutenant-colonel，iscertaintocreatebadfeeling。”Iwentacrosstotheislandtoexaminethecorn：thegreaterportionofthecropwillbereadyinabouteightdays，buttheBaris，inspiteoftheguards，arestealinglargequantitiesduringthenight。”Theterribledifficultyinthiscountryisthewantofcorn；andnowthatalldirectcommunicationwithKhartoumiscutoffbytheobstructionsintheNile，theaffairismostserious。Thenativesareallhostile，thusapowerfulforceisabsolutelynecessary，butthedifficultyistofeedthisforce。”IwroteanofficiallettertoRaoufBeytocautionLieutenant-ColonelTayibAghaagainstmakingremarksinthepresenceofhistroops。”

OnAugust3thesteamerreturned，bringingAchmetRafikandthesolesurvivingsoldierfromtheShir。Thisofficerdeclaredhismentohavebeeninsubordinate，andthattheyjoinedthenativesagainsthisorderstomakeanattackupontheirenemiesinreturnforattacksontheirpart。

Twowitnesses，thesurvivingsoldierandthewifeofonethat

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