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same time I wrote to Abou Saood； giving him notice of his responsibility
for the loss of the government troops； caused by his unprovoked and
unjustifiable aggression。 （From that time； I of course gave up all
ideas of returning the cattle that had been captured by Abou Saood； as I
had originally intended。 Such an act； after the destruction of my men；
would have been received by the Shir as a proof of fear。）
All my anticipations of successful cultivation had been fruitless。 The
drought of this year had caused a general scarcity。 The months of July
and August should have the heaviest rainfall； July had just expired with
a rainfall of only 1。13 inch。 The mean temperature had been 71 degrees F
at 6 a。m。； at noon； 84 degrees F。
I was very anxious about our supply of dhurra； which would not last much
longer。 On 1st August I ordered the troops to receive fifteen days'
rations of rice； so as to save the small stock of dhurra until the crops
should be ripe upon the island。 These were guarded by a company of
troops。 I extract the following entry from my journal：…
〃August 2； 1871。 The Soudani soldiers are discontented with their
rations of dhurra； and to…day I was addressed by an unreasonable mob；
demanding an increase of corn which does not exist。 These people never
think of to…morrow； and during the long voyage from Tewfikeeyah they
have been stealing the corn； and drinking merissa heedless of the
future。
〃The black colonel； Tayib Agha； is much to blame for the discontent； as
he has； upon several occasions； in THE PRESENCE OF THE TROOPS； told Mr。
Higginbotham and myself that 'the men could not work well because they
were hungry。' This foolish remark； made before the soldiers by their own
lieutenant…colonel； is certain to create bad feeling。
〃I went across to the island to examine the corn： the greater portion of
the crop will be ready in about eight days； but the Baris； in spite of
the guards； are stealing large quantities during the night。
〃The terrible difficulty in this country is the want of corn； and now
that all direct communication with Khartoum is cut off by the
obstructions in the Nile； the affair is most serious。 The natives are
all hostile； thus a powerful force is absolutely necessary； but the
difficulty is to feed this force。
〃I wrote an official letter to Raouf Bey to caution Lieutenant…Colonel
Tayib Agha against making remarks in the presence of his troops。〃
On August 3 the steamer returned； bringing Achmet Rafik and the sole
surviving soldier from the Shir。 This officer declared his men to have
been insubordinate； and that they joined the natives against his orders
to make an attack upon their enemies in return for attacks on their
part。
Two witnesses； the surviving soldier and the wife of one that was
killed； declared that Achmet Rafik himself gave the men orders to fight
the tribe； in company with the people of Niambore； but fearing
responsibility for the result； he now laid the onus of failure upon the
insubordination of the men。 （The fact remained that in consequence of
the razzia made by Abou Saood's orders the natives attacked Niambore and
my people。 In self…defence； Niambore and my few men returned the
attack； and my soldiers were killed。 The Shir were thus rendered hostile
with the exception of Niambore。）
My people were so obtuse that they could not understand the true
position of affairs。 The harvest was commencing。 I had jealously guarded
the corn upon the island； which should have produced at least 500
urdeps； but the officers and men did not wish to see the granaries
filled； as that fact would destroy the excuse for a return to Khartoum；
thus； instead of labouring with heart and soul to gather the harvest；
they worked so lazily； that in nine days they only reaped 237 urdeps； or
not one half that was actually upon the fields。 They permitted the
natives to steal by night； and the swarms of small birds destroyed an
incredible quantity by day。 These innumerable and ruinous pests do not
consume the entire grain； but they nibble the soft sweet portion from
the joint of each seed； neatly picking out the heart； thus the ground
beneath is strewed with their remnants of destruction。
I had not visited Belinian since their unprovoked attack； for two
reasons。 First； we were engaged in fortifying the station； and；
secondly； I did not wish to raise the suspicion among the Baris that I
might come down suddenly upon their crops。 Up to the present time we had
acted mainly on the defensive； and the natives had no fear for their
harvest。 I knew that about 2；000 acres of dhurra would be at our service
by a sudden attack on Belinian； if the troops would work earnestly to
secure it。 At the same time I was afraid to mention the subject； lest
some intrigue might destroy the possibility of success。
If Abou Saood or his people had possessed a knowledge of my intentions；
they would at once have given warning to our enemies； and would have
destroyed my plans。 Both Abou Saood and the greater number of the
officers were anxiously watching the close of the drama； as they
imagined that with the disappearance of supplies； the curtain would fall
upon the last act。
I possessed information that would render me independent of corn from
Khartoum； if the troops would only work honestly。 We were at open war
with the Baris； and we had been constantly subjected to their attacks。 I
had arranged my plans to complete my forts so as to be ready for a
campaign at the commencement of the harvest； when the country would be
full of corn。 My two rich harvests would be Beliniantwelve miles
distant and the fruitful islands beyond the mountain Regiaf； about
fourteen miles south of Gondokoro。 The latter would be easily collected；
as the vessels could load at the islands； and convey the cargoes down
stream direct to head…quarters。
Everything depended upon the officers and men。 Raouf Bey； who commanded
the troops； was in daily communication with Abou Saood； who was exerting
himself to the utmost to ruin the expedition by promoting discontent；
and persuading the officers that they would die of starvation； and that
the Baris were most dangerous enemies； who would exterminate the troops
should I weaken the force by taking a detachment to form stations in the
interior。
It was thus pre…arranged by my own people that； even if in the midst of
plenty； the corn should not be collected in any larger quantity than
would suffice to feed the expedition during the return voyage from
Gondokoro to Khartoum。
In that case； the expedition would be broken up and abandoned。 The
authorities would piously ejaculate； 〃El hambd el Allah！〃 （Thanks be to
God！） The country would once more fall into the hands of Abou Saood by
contract with the government of the Soudan。 The good old times of
slave…hunting would return and remain undisturbed。 The Christian would
have been got rid of by an ignominious failure。 Abou Saood would have
boasted of the success of his diplomacy； and Allorron and his Baris；
once freed from the restraint of a government； would have fraternized
again with their allies the slave…hunters； to pillage； kidnap； and
desolate the productive count