chap, hi.] THREATS OF KOORSHWS PEOPLE 
95 
intended to wait until Koorshid’s party should march, 
when I resolved to follow them, as I did not believe 
they would dare to oppose me by force, their master 
himself being friendly. I considered their threats as 
mere idle boasting, to frighten me from an attempt to 
follow them ; but there was another more serious cause 
of danger to be apprehended. 
On the route, between Gondokoro and Latooka, 
there was a powerful tribe among the mountains of 
Ellyria. The chief of that tribe (Legge) had formerly 
massacred a hundred and twenty of a trader s party. 
He was an ally of Koorshid’s people, who declared 
that they would raise the tribe against me, which 
would end in the defeat or massacre of my party. 
There was a difficult pass through the mountains of 
Ellyria, which it would be impossible to force; thus my 
small party of seventeen men would be helpless. It 
would be merely necessary for the traders to request 
the chief of Ellyria to attack my party to insure its 
destruction, as the plunder'of the baggage would be 
an ample reward. 
There was no time for deliberation. Both the pre¬ 
sent and the future looked as gloomy as could be 
imagined; but I had always expected extraordinary 
difficulties, and they were, if possible, to be surmounted. 
It was useless to speculate upon chances; there was 
no hope of success in inaction ; and the only resource 
was to drive through all obstacles without calculating 
the risk. 
Once away from Gondokoro we should be fairly 
launched on our voyage, the boats would have 
returned to Khartoum, thus retreat would be cut 
off; it only remained to push forward, trusting in 
Providence and good fortune. I had great faith in 
presents. The Arabs are all venal; and, having 
many valuable effects. with me, I trusted, when the 
proper moment should arrive, to be able to over¬ 
come all opposition by an open hand. 
The day arrived for the departure of Koorshid's 
