第45章

Shouldthisoccur，Ishouldbeplacedinadangerouspositionwithsosmallaforce，asitwouldbenecessarytodetachhalfthelittlebodytomarchtoGondokoroforsupports。

IcouldnotdefermydepartureinthehopeofreceivingreinforcementsfromKhartoum，astheirarrivalwouldbequiteuncertain，owingtothestateoftheriver。

ShouldIdelayatGondokoro，thedryseasonwouldpassby；theground，nowbakedhardbythesun，wouldbecomesoft，andwouldrendertransportbycartsimpossible。

Thetorrentswouldbecomeimpassableduringtherains，especiallytheriverAsua，whichinthewetseasoncutsoffallcommunicationwiththesouth。Thisdangerousriverwasveryimportant，asitwouldpreventaretreatshouldsuchamovementbenecessaryduringtherainyseason。

Iwaswellawareofthedifficultiesoftheposition，butIhadonlythechoiceoftwoevils。IfIremainedatGondokoro，mytermofservicewouldexpirefruitlessly。IshouldsimplyhavereducedtheBaris，andhaveestablishedthestation。AbouSaoodwouldremainintheinterioramonghisnumerousslaveestablishments，toridiculemyimpotence，andtodefymyordersthatheshouldquitthecountry。HewouldthuscontinueintheheartofAfricauntilIshouldhavereturnedhelplesslytoEngland。Hewouldthenhaveresumedhisoriginalworkofspoliation。

Theexpeditionwouldhavebeenafailure。

Ontheotherhand，shouldmysmallforcemeetwithdefeatordestruction，boththemilitaryandthecivilworldwouldexclaim，”Servehimright！theexpeditiontotheinteriormadeundersuchcircumstancesshowedagreatwantofjudgment；atotalignoranceofthefirstrulesinmilitarytactics。Whatcouldheexpect，withoutanestablishedcommunication，atadistanceofthreeorfourhundredmilesfromhisbase?Simplemadness！——notfittocommand！”&c。&c。&c。

Iknewtherisksandtheresponsibility；butifIremainedpassive，I

shouldbebeaten。Ihadoftengotthroughdifficulties，andifrisksaretobemeasuredinAfricabyordinarycalculations，therewouldbelittlehopeofprogress。

Ideterminedtocarryaslargeasupplyofammunitionascouldbetransported，togetherwithsufficientmerchandise，carefullyassorted，toestablishalegitimateivorytradeinmyoldfriendKamrasi’scountry，Unyoro(TheUnyorocountryiscalledbythetraders”Magungo。”)

TheEnglishmenwouldbeoccupiedintheconstructionofthesteameratIbrahimeyeh，whileIshouldaccomplishmymissionfarthersouth。

Iselectedmyofficersandmen，carefullyavoidingEgyptianofficers，withtheexceptionofmytruefriendsandaides-de-camp，Lieutenant-ColonelAbd-el-Kader，CaptainMohammedDeiiofthe”FortyThieves，”andthefaithfulMonsoor。

TheSoudaniofficersthathadservedinMexicounderMarshalBazainewere——MajorAbdullah；CaptainMorgianSherriff；CaptainAbdullah；

LieutenantsMorgianandFerritch；andseveralsergeants，corporals，&c。

Ialsoincludedthreesailorsbelongingtomydiahbeeah，astheywouldbeusefulintheeventofboatingexcursions。ThesemenwereJali，Mohammed，andHowarti；allofwhomwerearmed，andfellintothelineofrankandfileassoldiers。

TheNo。3steamerhadbeenpackedwithmuchcare。Thecartshadbeenloadedwiththeheavyportionsthatcouldnotbetransporte

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