layed in Belignan by ivory transactions with the
■chief.
While negotiations were pending with the guide,
the trader’s party appeared in the distance, and
avoiding us, they halted on the opposite side of the
village. I now tried conciliatory measures, and I sent
my vakeel to' their headman Ibrahim to talk with
him confidentially, and to try to obtain an interpreter
in return for a large present.
My. vakeel was in an awkward position—he was
afraid of me ; also mortally afraid of the government
in Khartoum; and frightened out of his life at his
own men, whose conspiracy to desert he was well
aware of. With the cunning of an Arab he started
on his mission, accompanied by several of the men,
including the arch-mutineer Bellaal. He shortly
returned, saying, “ that it was .perfectly impossible
to proceed to the inferior ; that Ibrahim’s party were
outrageous at my having followed on their route ;
that he would neither give an interpréter, nor allow
any of the natives to serve me; and that he would
give orders to the great chief of Ellyria to prevent
me from passing through his country.”
At that time the Turks were engaged in business
transactions with the natives; it therefore was all
important that I should start immediately, and by
a forced march arrive at Ellyria, and get through
the pass, before they should communicate with the
chief. I had no doubt that, by paying black mail,
I should be able to clear Ellyria, provided I was in
advance of the Turks, but should they outmarch me
there would be no hope; a fight and defeat would
be the climax. I accordingly gave orders for an
immediate start. “ Load the camels, my brothers ! ”
I exclaimed, to the sullen ruffians around me; but
not a man stirred except Richarn and a fellow named
Sali, who began to show signs of improvement. Seeing
that the men intended to disobey, I immediately
set to work myself loading the animals, requesting
my men not to trouble themselves, and begging them
to lie down and smoke their pipes while I did the
work. A few rose from the ground ashamed, and
assisted to load the camels, while the others declared
the impossibility of camels travelling by the road we
were about to take, as the Turks had informed them
that not even the donkeys could march through the
thick jungles between Belignan and Ellyria.
“ All right, my brothers ! ” I replied; “ then we’ll
march as far as the donkeys can go, and leave both
them and the baggage on the road when they can go
no farther; but I go forward.”
With sullen discontent the men began to strap on
L 2