第42章

Beforetheydeparted，Iwasassured，notonlyoftheirregretthatanymisunderstandingshouldhavetakenplace，butthataftertheirbeancrop，whichwouldbeinabouttwomonths，theywouldunitewithBeddenandcarryallmybaggageintotheinterior。Theytookleaveandwentoffinthedirectionofthedeadelephants。

Herewasasuddenchangeinthepoliticsofthecountry！Peacehadbeeneffectedbythesacrificeoftwoelephants！

Thispeacewastheresultofgreedinessandenvy。Thenativeshadpinedfortheflesh，andenviedtheBarisofBeddenwhowerecarryingitaway；

thereforetheysuedforpeace。

Atthesametime，theyhadoriginallydeclinedmyofferofalargeherdofcattlethatwouldhavebeenworthahundredelephants。Thustheyhadcourtedwar，inwhichtheyhadlostsomeoftheirpeople，togetherwithmuchcorn，allofwhichtheymighthavesoldforcows；andtheynowdesiredpeace，onlytojoininthescramble，likevultures，overthefleshoftwoelephants。

Africannegroesareincomprehensiblepeople，andtheycannotbejudgedbytheordinaryrulesofhumannature。Itwaseasytounderstand，thatiftheydesiredpeaceuponsofrivolousapretext，theywouldplungeintowarwiththesamefrivolity——witha”coeurleger。”

Aseachdivisionofthedistrictquicklyfollowedtheexampleofanotherindesiringpeace，inlikemannerwouldtheyfollowanevilexampleinprovokinghostilities。

Theyhadnowprofessedfriendshipforthesakeofafewsteaks。Theyhadpromisedtocarryourbaggageintotheinterior。Iftheywouldonlybetruetothisoffer，Ishouldbeabletotransportthesteamer，asthenativescouldeasilydragthetwo-wheeledcarts。AlthoughIdoubtedtheirprofessions，Ihadsomesecrethopesofsuccess，andIresolvedtodoallinmypowertoestablishconfidence。Ithereforeinvitedtwoveryintelligentnativestopaymeavisit，andtoresidesometimeatGondokoro，wheretheywouldwitnessthegeneralmanagementofthestation，andseetheworkshops，&c。Theywouldalsoseethevastherdsofcattlebelongingtothegovernment，thespoiloftheBariwar。ThiswouldbeasightmostinterestingtotheeyesofBaris，asitwouldbealessonofthegreatpowerofthegovernmenttoeitherpunishorreward。

IntheafternoonIwasvisitedbyothernativeheadmenfromtheeastsideoftheNile。Thesepeoplehadswumtheriver，andhadfollowedtheexampleoftheothernativestosueforpeace，andtobegforelephant’sflesh。

ThisextraordinarycravingforfleshwouldsuggestthattheBarisweredevoidofcattle。Onthecontrary，therearecountlessherdsthroughoutthecountry；butthenativeshaveagreatobjectiontokillthem，andmerelykeepthecowsfortheirmilk，andthebullockstobleed。

Thecowsarealsobledperiodically，andthebloodisboiledandeaten，muchinthesamemannerthatblackpuddingisusedthroughoutEurope。A

herdofcattlewillthusprovideanimalfoodwithoutthenecessityofslaughtering。

Thegreattraveller，Bruce，wasdiscreditedforhavingdescribedafactofwhichhewasaneye-witness。Thiswasthevivisectionofacow，drivenbynatives，whocutasteakoutofherhind-quarters。

Ihadabullwithaverylargehump。(ThisbullwasleftatFortFatiko。)Thisanimalwasveryhandsome，andwaskeptforstock。I

observedthattheskinofthehumpshowedalongjaggedscarfromendtoend，andmypeopleassuredmethatthisbullhadfrequentlybeenoperatedupon。Ithadbeenthepropertyofoneoftheslave-hunters’

parties，andtheyhadbeeninthehabitofremovingthehump(asasurgeonwouldatumour)。Thisisthemostdelicateportionofthemeat，andIwasassuredthatthehumpwouldalwaysbereplacedbyasimilargrowthaftereachoperation。

On18thNovember，Icommencedthemarchhomewards。Thenativeswerenowfriendlythroughouttheroute，andmymenwerestrictlyforbiddentoenteravillage。Therewasagreatchangeinmyofficersandtroops；

theyhadfallenintomywaysandobeyedeveryorderwithalacrity。Theyhadlearnedtoplacethoroughrelianceuponanypl

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