This demand being of course refused, they retired, muttering in an insolent manner their determination of stealing cattle with or without my permission.

I said nothing at the time, but early on the following morning I ordered the drum to beat and the men to fall in.

I made them a short address, reminding them of the agreement made at Khartoum to follow me faithfully, and of the compact that had been entered into, that they were neither to indulge in slave-hunting nor in cattle-stealing.

The only effect of my address was a great outbreak of insolence on the part of the ringleader of the previous evening.

This fellow, named Eesur, was an Arab, and his impertinence was so violent that I immediately ordered him twenty-five lashes, as an example to the others.
Upon the vakeel's (Saati) advancing to seize him, there was a general mutiny.