184 
ORDER OF MARCH. 
[chap. y. 
in case of an attack. The porters and baggage follow 
in single file, soldiers being at intervals to prevent 
them from running away ; in which case the runner is 
invariably fired at. The supply of ammunition is in 
the centre, carried generally by about fifteen natives, 
and strongly escorted by guards. The rear of the 
party is closed by another flag, behind which no 
straggler is permitted. The rear flag is also guarded 
by six or eight men, with a box of spare ammunition. 
With these arrangements the party is always ready to 
support an attack. 
Ibrahim, my new ally, was now riding in front of the 
line, carrying on his saddle before him a pretty little 
girl, his daughter, a child of a year and a half old; 
her mother, a remarkably pretty Bari girl, one of his 
numerous wives, was riding behind him on an ox. We 
soon got into conversation ;—a few pieces of sugar 
given to the child and mother by Mrs. Baker was a 
sweet commencement; and Ibrahim then told me to 
beware of my own men, as he knew they did not 
intend to remain with me ; that they were a different 
tribe from his men, and they would join Chenoodas 
people and desert me on our arrival at their station in 
Latooka. This was a corroboration of all I had heard 
previous to leaving Gondokoro, therefore I had the 
promised mutiny in perspective. I had noticed that 
