The old scene was re-enacted. The new
sheik, Morbe, together with Allorron and many headmen, arrived. Again a
long palaver took place, through the medium of Tomby, the interpreter,
and the promises of good behaviour were renewed.
I informed them that I should not confiscate their cattle, but I should
keep them as hostages for their good behaviour; at the same time, I
should select a certain number of oxen as food for the troops, which
should be paid for.
The meeting terminated with fresh assurances of goodwill . . . A few
days elapsed, but the Baris did not return; we were completely
abandoned.
On June 29th the camp was disturbed at night by an attempt of the
natives to drive off some of the cattle. The sentry fired, but without
effect. I foresaw trouble.
On June 1st I issued a General Order to the troops -
"The natives of the Bari having disobeyed the summons of the government,
and having refused compliance with the regulations established, it has
become necessary to compel them to obedience by force.
"In the event of hostilities, I specially forbid the capture of women,
or children of either sex. Any officer or soldier disobeying this order
will suffer death. "S. W. BAKER."
I felt certain that a breach of the peace was at hand, and I made
arrangements accordingly. The troops were daily engaged in building the
station, in which they were assisted by the sailors, all of whom were
obliged to carry the material from a distance of two miles from the
forest. A party of sawyers with a small escort of soldiers were settled
in a camp about three miles from my station, as the distance was too
great for a daily return from their work. One night they were attacked
by the natives, who shot arrows and yelled for about an hour, but
fortunately did not succeed in wounding any of the men, who were well
protected by the trunks of some very large trees. The soldiers had fired
away a considerable amount of ammunition in return, until they managed
to escape during the darkness, and run away to head-quarters.
On 3rd June, at about 3 P.M., when the cattle were grazing in the
beautiful park-like ground about a mile from head-quarters, some Baris,
who had stealthily approached the herd by stalking from bush to bush,
without being observed by the sleepy guards, made a sudden rush with
loud yells among the cattle, and succeeded in driving off ten cows with
which they swam the river without a shot being fired by the unready
soldiers. (On this occasion the guards must have run away at the first
onset of the natives.)
On the night of the 4th June two natives were captured by the sentries.
These people had crept in the pitch darkness, until they had succeeded
in entering the cattle zareeba. One of them confessed that a large body
of natives was assembled in the high grass near the banks of the river,
with the intention of attacking the camp during the night.
I immediately took eighteen men, and posted them in three parties of six
at various points about a quarter of a mile from my station. They were
to lie concealed in these positions, which commanded every approach to
the camp.
At 10.30 P.M. I was aroused by the sound of firing, and upon arrival at
the shot I found that the sentries had fired into the advanced party of
natives, some of whom they declared to be wounded, but I could find no
trace of blood.
Open war had commenced. The natives had deserted their villages on the
portion of the island opposite to my camp. This was about seven miles in
length, therefore, in return for the attacks made upon my people on our
mainland, I determined to pay the Baris a visit.
I issued the necessary orders. At 3 A.M., on June 5th, five boats with
sixty men dropped silently down the east channel of the river, with
orders to land at the extreme end of the island. At the same time two
companies of troops landed opposite my station, where they waited in the
dark until the steamer, with myself and two companies on board, had
rounded the head of the island, and had obtained a position in the west
channel. The troops then advanced while the steamer ran easily down the
strong current. Everything went well, but the noise of the paddles
quickly gave the alarm, and the sound of a big drum in the distance was
almost immediately responded to by many others from various points.
The steamer now ran at half speed along the river, the intention of
cutting off any native canoes, or intercepting any herds of cattle that
might be passing to the west mainland. Every arrangement was well
carried out; but, unfortunately, as we were running at about nine miles
an hour, the steamer suddenly struck upon a sand-bank, where she
remained fixed.
After some vain attempts to float her, I instructed Raouf Bey to do his
best with her, and act, according to circumstances, at his own
discretion, while I left the steamer in the dingy, accompanied by
Lieutenant Baker and six soldiers of the "Forty Thieves," with the
intention of joining the two companies under Lieutenant-Colonel
Abd-el-Kader, who were marching down the island from south to north.
We rowed down the stream for forty-five minutes along the west bank of
the island. I had calculated the distance by time, and having allowed
for the delay on the steamer and the pace at which the troops under
Abd-el-Rader would march, I concluded that we should now land somewhere
near them. This turned out correct, as we joined his party a few minutes
after we had left the boat.
