chap, xvii.] SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF THE NATIVES. 463 
precaution in the arrangement of our march : we had 
entered the territory of the ever hostile Bari tribe ; 
we had been already warned that we could not pass to 
Gondokoro without being attacked. 
We slept on the road, about seven miles to the 
north of the Asua. On the following morning we 
started. The route led over a fine country parallel 
with the Nile, that still continued in a rock-bound 
channel on the west of the march. Throughout the 
route from the Un-y-Ame junction, the soil had been 
wretchedly poor,—a mass of rock and decomposed 
granite forming a sand that quickly parched during 
the dry season. The level of the country being about 
200 feet above the Nile, deep gullies cut the route at 
right angles, forming the natural drains to the river. 
In these ravines grew dense thickets of bamboos. 
Having no native guide, but trusting solely to the 
traders people, who had travelled frequently by this 
route, we lost the path, and shortly became entangled 
amongst the numerous ravines. At length we passed 
a village, around which were assembled a number of 
natives. Having regained the route, we observed the 
natives appearing in various directions, and as quickly 
disappearing only to gather in our front in increased 
numbers. Their movements exciting suspicion, in a 
country where every man was an enemy, our party 
closed together;—we threw out an advance guard,— 
ten men on either flank,—the porters, ammunition, and 
effects in the centre ; while about ten men brought up 
the rear. Before us lay two low rocky hills covered 
with trees, high grass and brushwood, in which I 
distinctly observed the bright red forms of natives 
painted according to the custom of the Bari tribe. 
We were evidently in for a fight. The path lay in 
a gorge between the low rocky hills in advance. My 
wife dismounted from her ox, and walked at the head 
of our party with me, Saat following behind with the 
gun that he usually carried, while the men drove 
several riding-oxen in the centre. Hardly had we 
