These rockets were fired from an inclined rest of a soldier's fixed
bayonet.
Having cleared the neighbourhood, I returned to the diahbeeah at
midnight.
I find this entry in my journal:-
"January 29, 1872.-All the googoos or granaries abound with corn. The
natives are so rich, both in dhurra and cattle, that they will not work,
but they are only ready to sleep or steal. After all my kindness, they
have wantonly attacked my cattle without the plea either of hunger or
provocation.
"What can be accomplished with such people? I shall be obliged to return
the steamer to Ismailia (Gondokoro). It is heartbreaking work after all
my trouble in having brought her to this distant point.
"Nothing can be done without camels, and these animals cannot be
brought from Khartoum in the closed state of the river.
"My original plan included 200 camels, 200 cavalry, and fifteen large
decked sloops. None of these necessary items have been sent from
Khartoum, thus I am paralyzed."
CHAPTER XV.
THE ADVANCE TO LOBORE.
I determined upon a new plan. I knew the direction of Lobore, as I had
been there during my former expedition; the distance could not exceed
sixty miles.
If the soldiers could draw the carts, I might yet manage to advance, as
I should be able to procure carriers on arrival at Lobore; provided
always that the natives were as friendly as when I left them some years
ago.
It would be impossible to convey the steamer, as I could not expect to
provide 2,000 carriers; but I might be able to penetrate south, suppress
the slave-hunters, establish the government, and open up a legitimate
trade.
The first step necessary was to convey the large herd of cattle across
the river, which was about 400 yards in width, with a very rapid stream.
I fully expected that we should be attacked by the natives in great
force during this operation, which necessitated a division of my force
upon both banks of the Nile.
The sheep were taken across in vessels, but the cows were obliged to
swim. This passage was very tedious, as the animals were necessarily
taken in small batches, guided by men who swam by their side in the
manner already described at Gondokoro.
Although the natives were avowedly hostile, they dared not face us in
the open. They made another attempt by night to surprise the cattle
kraal, but Colonel Abd-el-Kader immediately set fire to a few villages
as a response and warning.
We were occupied four days in passing the cattle across the river.
During the passage, we lost one taken by a crocodile, and three cows
were wantonly seized and drowned by hippopotami.
