CHAP. III.] 
BICHARN FAITHFUL. 
89 
create much attention. We were utterly helpless; the 
whole of the people against us, and openly threatening. 
For myself personally I had no anxiety, but the fact of 
Mrs. Baker being with me was my greatest care. I 
dared not think of her position in the event of my 
death amongst such savages as those around her. 
These thoughts were shared by her; but she, knowing 
that I had resolved to succeed, never once hinted an 
advice for retreat. 
Bicharn was as faithful as Saat, and I accordingly 
confided in him my resolution to leave all my baggage 
in charge of a friendly chief of the Ban s at Gondo- 
koro, and to take two fast dromedaries for him and 
Saat, and two horses for Mrs. Baker and myself, and 
to make a push through the hostile tribe for three days, 
to arrive among friendly people at “ Moir,” from which 
place I trusted to fortune. I arranged that the drome- 
daries should carry a few beads, ammunition, and the 
astronomical instruments. 
Bicharn said the idea was very mad; that the natives 
would do nothing for beads; that he had had great 
experience on the White Nile when with a former 
master, and that the natives would do nothing without 
receiving cows as payment; that it was of no use 
being good to them, as they had no respect for any 
virtue but “ force; ” that we should most likely be 
murdered; but that if I ordered him to go, he was 
ready to obey. 
“ Master, go on, and I will follow thee, 
To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty.” 
I was delighted with Bicharn s rough and frank fidelity. 
Ordering the horses to be brought, I carefully pared 
their feet—their hard, flinty hoofs, that had never felt 
a shoe, were in excellent order for a gallop, if necessary. 
All being ready, I sent for the chief of Gondokoro. 
Meanwhile a Bari boy arrived from Koorshid to act as 
my interpreter. 
The Bari chief was, as usual, smeared all over with 
red ochre and fat, and had the shell of a small land- 
