That evening we halted at a village on the heights, only three miles
from the vessels. The natives had deserted their habitations on our
approach, and would not come near us. I ordered the troops to save their
flour, and to eat from that discovered in the village, for which on the
following morning I left two cows as a present. They were tied up in the
native zareeba. The cows were worth at least fifty times the flour we
had consumed; but I wished to adopt this plan throughout the journey to
Lobore, in order to establish confidence, and to open up the road for
the future.
On 9th February we started at 5.35 a.m., and marched two hours and a
half through a very beautiful undulating country, diversified with
rocks, streams, and handsome park-like timber.
We halted at a village called Koojok, beneath a large fig-tree (Ficus
Indica). Our old friend Lokko appeared to be perfectly well known, and
he at once introduced us to the natives, who received us without fear or
suspicion. At this village I was able to hire five natives for as many
cows, to ease my people (especially Monsoor) of their loads.
Thus relieved, we started at 2 p.m., and halted for the night at a
village named Gobbohr. The day's march was twelve miles. North latitude,
by observation, 4 degrees 28 minutes.
At this spot the natives brought us a great curiosity, which they had
purchased from the Baris of Belinian. This was no less than a shell of 8
1/4 lbs. that had been fired at the Baris by our cannon, but the fuze
had not ignited. It had been sold to the natives of Gobbohr as a piece
of iron.
I inquired the use of such a lump of metal to them. "Oh!" they replied,
"we are going to hammer it into molotes (hoes)."
I explained to them that it was a loaded shell, that would explode and
blow the blacksmith and his people to pieces, if he were to place it on
the fire. They went away with their shell, evidently doubting my
explanation.
On the 10th February, having as usual presented the natives with two
cows, we started at 6 a.m., and marched ten miles. The country was even
more lovely than before, comprising fine rocky scenery and beautiful
park-like views. The undulations terminated in stony bottoms or
water-courses; the rocks were all syenite, gneiss, and large masses of
snow-white quartz.
Although at this season the ground was parched, the trees were all
vividly green: the contrast of this bright green with the yellow turf
was very remarkable.
At 2.50 p.m. we again started, and marched three miles, arriving at a
village on high ground called Marengo, in N. lat. 4 degrees 18 minutes.
Here I met an old acquaintance, who, of course, asked me for a cow. This
was a very respectable man, named Nersho, who had, when a boy, been
brought up by the Austrian missionaries at Gondokoro. I had met him
during my former journey when in company with Koorshood's vakeel,
Ibrahim. We slept at Marengo. The soldiers borrowed the natives' mats,
cooking pots, &c., but scrupulously returned everything according to
orders.
February 11. - Nersho received his cow; and I left two in addition for
the headman of the village.
We started at 5.35 a.m., and marched ten miles, and halted at a small
ravine of running water among wooded hills.
Our old guide, Lokko, was at fault. After much trouble we succeeded in
obtaining two natives, who told us, that in this spot they had killed a
large number of the slave-hunters' people.
Other natives soon joined us, and we were led by a difficult rocky path
through thick forest among the hills for five miles, to the pretty open
country of Mooge.
Throughout the journey from the Nile, the country had been thickly
populated. At Mooge we camped in a large village on the hill.
February 12. - We started at 5.25, and marched straight to Lobore, a
distance of fourteen miles. The road was through forest, intersected at
right-angles with deep watercourses from the mountain, called Forke,
about a mile distant upon our left. This fine, rocky, and almost
perpendicular hill is 2,000 feet high.
On arrival at Lobore we halted beneath a large tree, and waited for the
cattle, which were some distance in the rear, owing to the difficulty in
crossing the numerous steep ravines. Some work would be necessary on
this road to render it possible for carts.
We had thus marched fifty-seven miles from our vessels without the
necessity of firing a shot, although we were accompanied by so tempting
a prize as a large herd of cattle and sheep.
The natives of Lobore soon began to collect, and the dragoman, Wani,
shortly appeared, who proved to be an old acquaintance in my former
journey. This man, who had been an interpreter when a boy among the
traders, spoke good Arabic, and we soon felt quite at home. Abbio, the
old sheik of Lobore appeared. This old fellow was half-blind; but he
seemed very willing to assist, and, after I had explained the object of
my visit, he assured me that his people would go to the vessels if
accompanied by my soldiers, and that I need not be uneasy about my
baggage.
The Lobore are not Bari. I was delighted to have passed the southern
frontier at Mooge, and to have quitted that incomprehensible tribe. The
language of the Lobore is a dialect of the Madi.
In the evening, the cattle arrived with the rear-guard. I had requested
the old sheik to have a zareeba prepare, for them; this was quickly
accomplished, therefore an ox was slaughtered as a reward for all those
who had worked at the inclosure.
