An attack had evidently been made, and
a regular fight was going on: it was therefore to be expected that my
small force would soon have to act on the defensive. Spare ammunition
was quickly in readiness, and we were well prepared.
In the mean time, a general action was growing hotter every moment; the
yells of the natives and the din of their horns became louder. I was
momentarily expecting to hear the sound of cannon, and I was speculating
upon the effect that the fire of ten guns loaded with case shot would
have among such a crowd of enemies; but to my astonishment not a gun was
fired. Simply the roll of musketry continued.
In about half an hour the native yells grew fainter, the noise of their
horns and drums was reduced, and the heavy firing dwindled to dropping
shots. I heard the bugles sound "cease firing." I then heard "the
advance." Again firing commenced, this time in volleys; then I heard
once more "cease firing," and then "the retreat:" the attack was
repulsed.
I could not understand why my little station had not been attacked; but
I subsequently heard that the natives were more afraid of the "Forty
Thieves" than of the entire force. Added to this was the powerful reason
that I had only a few cows for milk, while the attraction of many
thousand head of cattle induced an attack on the camp at Gondokoro.
On the following morning before sunrise I rode up to camp to hear the
news. It appeared that the natives had actually surprised the sentries.
We had lost a corporal, killed; and a lieutenant and one soldier were
wounded by arrows.
The Baris and the Loquia had attacked in large force with the intention
of burning the station, as many were provided with flaming firebrands,
with which they had advanced bravely to the edge of the thorn fence. Had
the station not been protected by this defence it is probable that the
enemy might have succeeded in firing the houses.
As usual, the troops had fired badly. Such a fusilade as I had heard
should have covered the plain with dead. The officers and men declared
that great numbers of the enemy were killed, but their comrades had
carried off the bodies. This was true to a certain extent, as I saw
blood in many directions, and we found one Loquia lying dead with two
bullet wounds, through the head and thigh.
There can be no doubt that the camp was surprised through the neglect of
the patrol and the sleepiness of sentries, and it was only saved by the
thorn fence and the fire of so large a force as 1,100 men. The colonel
in command of the troops, Raouf Bey, could give no satisfactory
explanation for the silence of the artillery, but he subsequently told
me they HAD FORGOTTEN ITS EXISTENCE in the excitement of the moment.
Another officer told me they had brought up one gun, but could not find
the key of the ammunition. I remembered what David said in his haste,
and I came to the conclusion that they had been disgracefully surprised.
I determined to lose no time in protecting the station by a ditch and
earthwork, so that I could leave a garrison without risk, and I would
then attack the country in every direction.
The iron magazines were completed, and all goods and supplies were
stored. The camp was so far finished that the men were housed. I
therefore drew a plan for the fort, which I intrusted to the care of Mr.
Higginbotham, the chief engineer, for execution. I gave orders that all
hands, including the sailors, should immediately be employed to dig the
fosse. The expedition was well supplied with tools, and the work was
commenced with vigour, as the officers and men did not object to have a
deep ditch between them and the enemy.
I also planned a triangular fort as a protection to my small herd of
about a hundred milch cows at my own station. The "Forty Thieves" did
not require a fort, but the cattle might be carried off by a sudden rush
that would induce a stampede unless they were well secured.
"The Forty" set to work, assisted daily by thirty men from
head-quarters, and we soon had a strong fort, with ditch and rampart,
that defied attack.
A short time after the grand surprise of the camp at head-quarters, the
last attempt was made upon my little station, which ended as usual in my
men being well on the alert, and in the death of one of the scouts, shot
by the outlying guard through the thigh. Before he died, he confessed
that the Belinian and the Loquia, together with the Baris of Gondokoro,
had united in the general attack on the camp on the 21st; but that they
had lost many men, who, being badly wounded, had died on the road during
the retreat.
My little station from this date went out of fashion, and the Baris
declined to attack, as they subsequently declared that my sentries were
never asleep like those at head-quarters.
"The Forty" had earned a reputation that increased their self-respect.
Not only were they nearly sure to kill the wily scouts, but patrols at
night searched out the natives, and generally came upon them with fatal
effect.
CHAPTER X
DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIR DETACHMENT.
On July 30, 1871, I was astonished by the arrival of the tall sheik,
Niambore, with whom I had left an officer and six men in the Shir tribe,
to superintend the cultivation of corn. This fine-looking fellow was
introduced, accompanied by five of his principal advisers.
