THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 235 



morning he beats the signal that sends the women out to milk 

 the cows ; at another signal they drive them to pasture, etc., so 

 that the drum signalizes nearly all their domestic communistic 

 duties. But its most ominous notes, a prolonged, rapid pound- 

 ing, brings every soldier quickly to his post, with their bows and 

 poisoned arrows, and murderous-looking lances, which they can 

 throw with deadly effect fifty yards. 



AN ATTACK BY THE BARIS. 



As the country had now been annexed to Egypt, Baker issued 

 such orders as he considered necessary for its proper government, 

 among others being one which prohibited the Baris from grazing 

 their cattle on a certain piece of rich pasturage, which he reserved 

 for the use of the stock belonging to the expedition. The sav- 

 ages paid no attention to this order, evidently thinking, and with 

 apparent justice, that they had as much right to the country as 

 the white man. But Baker was determined not to be outdone, 

 so he directed his men to surround the cattle and drive them into 

 his own kraal. This quickly brought all the chiefs to head- 

 quarters, for their cattle constituted their wealth. After a great 

 deal of parleying they agreed, if their cattle were returned to 

 them, that they would abandon the disputed pasturage and not 

 interfere further. Baker consented to this arrangement, and 

 their herds were turned loose ; but they were driven at once to 

 the same piece of ground. This was a challenge that Baker could 

 not endure, and he again had the cattle seized and driven into his 

 kraal. 



It was now plain to be seen that serious trouble was brewing. 

 Every day the great drum was beaten, summoning the Bari war- 

 riors to a meeting, at which they went through their war exer- 

 cises of fighting an imaginary enemy. At length, active hostilities 

 were begun by a body of Baris attacking eighteen soldiers while 

 the latter were engaged cutting tamarind trees for building pur- 

 poses, about three miles from camp. A great many arrows were 

 shot, happily without serious results, as the men were protected 

 by a clump of trees and kept their assailants off by firing their 

 guns. 



