第 67 节
作者:巴乔的中场      更新:2021-02-20 18:11      字数:9322
  fellow as the rain…maker。 His name was Lokko。
  At 3 p。m。; on 8th February; we started; old Lokko leading the way; and
  waving a couple of thin; peeled sticks at a refractory black cloud that
  appeared determined to defy his rain…ruling powers。 A few loud blasts
  upon the new horn; and a good deal of pantomime and gesticulation on the
  part of old Lokko; at length had the desired effect; the cloud went off
  about its business; and Lokko; having given his face an extra rub of
  fresh wood…ashes before starting; looked ugly enough to frighten any
  rain…devil out of his wits。
  My people were heavily laden。 At the commencement of the journey; an ox
  that Monsoor had been training; kicked off its load; and went off at
  full gallop like a wild animal; and we never saw it again。 Poor Monsoor
  now shouldered the load that the ox had left helpless; and marched thus
  heavily laden up the hill。
  My wife rode 〃Greedy Grey;〃 which carried as much as could be hung upon
  the saddle。 I rode the powerful chestnut 〃Jamoos。〃 Lieutenant Baker
  mounted a very handsome light chestnut 〃Gazelle;〃 and Colonel
  Abd…el…Kader rode the Zafteer。 The latter was a fine old Arab that I had
  purchased of a zafteer (mounted police) in Cairo。 I had ten donkeys
  which carried officers' effects; spare ammunition; flour; &c。 The
  twenty…two boatmen carried boxes。
  My wife and I; with Lieutenant Baker and an advanced guard of five of
  〃The Forty;〃 followed old Lokko; who led the way; and Colonel
  Abd…el…Kader and Captain Mohammed Deii were with the rear…guard; which
  drove 1;000 cows and 500 sheep。 The cattle were in the charge of the
  Bari interpreter; Morgian。
  Our boys and girls all carried loads。 Amarn looked like a small Robinson
  Crusoe; with a tanned sheepskin bag of clothes upon his back; upon which
  was slung the coffee…pot; an umbrella; and various smaller articles;
  while he assisted himself with a long staff in his hand。 Little Cuckoo;
  who; although hardly seven years old; was as strong as a little pony;
  strode along behind my horse; carrying upon his head my small travelling
  bag。
  Everybody was in the best spirits; as the reaction from despair
  to success was delightful。 We were really off at last; and were actually
  on the march to the interior。
  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。
  On 13th February 〃we held a regular market for the purchase of flour in
  exchange for sheep and goats。 Many of these useful little animals were
  sickly; owing to the marches in the hot sun; which had created intense
  thirst。 Upon arrival at streams upon the route; they had drunk too
  greedily; and some had died of inflammation。
  〃The natives purchased live goats at the rate of about 30 lbs。 of flour。
  This was an equal exchange in live weight of the animal; a pound of
  flour for a pound of goat。
  〃February 14。The whole country turned out to hunt; and the natives
  returned in the evening; having only killed two buffaloes and a few
  small antelopes。 Even the small boys are armed in this country with bows
  and barbed arrows; with which they shoot remarkably well。
  〃February 15。The old sheik; Abbio; accompanied by Wani; appeared
  early; together with a considerable number of natives。 They selected 396
  cows from my zareeba; and a similar number of men promised to start
  to…morrow with fifty soldiers to convoy the material from the vessels。
  〃February 16。After some delay the natives assembled; and with horns
  blowing and much shouting and whistling; they at length started;
  together with our return sailors; and an escort of fifty soldiers。
  〃I shall thus; after much care and anxiety; be able to push on with a
  quantity of goods sufficient to open the path and to establish relations
  with the equatorial countries。 I shall have 212 troops