The Arabs in reply to this salute of three guns fired nine shots against the lines to-night, two of which passed over our lines—a sort of revenge for our salute.
The man who went up with the letter came back with two letters[69] and the soap, which was refused.
Our salute, which was replied to by the Arabs by shotted guns, made us fire shotted guns in reply; and the “man who came in with the soap” says our guns killed twenty men, which I fear is an exaggeration. This man says the Arabs are in a bad state, with little food. They threatened to kill him. I sent out letter[70] in answer.
September 22.—One escaped slave came in to-day. The Berber steamers are said to be coming up river. Sent out two hundred men from Halfeyeh to drive off foraging parties of Arabs investing roads from that place to Shoboloha.
The Saphia and Mansowrah have returned from Berber. They passed the Abbas, that is about all, and I am grateful for that. They carried out my orders. Colonel Stewart’s letter reports in detail. The steamers lost three killed, and had four wounded. They saw the two captured steamers under the bank.
N.B.—When self-acting mines are placed, it is as well to connect them with twine to facilitate taking them up.
September 23.—The men who went out to drive back the marauders between Halfeyeh and Shoboloha have come back. They drove back the Arabs and captured a lot of things.
During the blockade here, viz., from say March 12th till to-day September 22nd we have expended—
| 3,240,770 | Remington | } | cartridges. |
| 1,570 | Krupp gun | ||
| 9,442 | Mountain gun |