I was much distressed at this loss. It seemed that I was to lose all my
best and most faithful followers - the good Monsoor, whom to this hour I
regret as a brother; the ever-ready and true Howarti; Ferritch Baggara;
the unfortunate Ramadan, besides others who were very valuable; and now
my old horse was gone.
We slept that night by his body, and warmed ourselves by a fire that
consumed his load - for there was no one to carry it. My despatch-box
helped to cook our scanty dinner. We had marched sixteen miles.
My troops had behaved remarkably well. The scolding that I had given
them had produced a good effect. Very little ammunition had been
expended, and the firing had been exceedingly steady.
Although we had not been attacked at night, I never omitted the
precaution of a defence of strong thorns and branches of trees.
Had this march through a frightful route of forest and high grass been
made in the Bari tribe, we should not have had a night's rest.
We started at 6 A.M., with sunrise, on 18th June. The weather had been
fine since the first day of soaking rain on the start from Masindi:
