ismailia-第69章

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the　unfortunate　boy　whose　posterior　he　had　literally　CUT　OFF　with　a　whip
of　hippopotamus'　hide。　。　。　。

〃Eddrees　was　sentenced　to　receive　100　lashes；　but　when　thirty　strokes
had　been　administered；　the　native　chiefs　interceded　in　his　behalf；
saying　that　the　great　blame　rested　upon　Suleiman；　and　that　Eddrees　was
not　a　bad　man；　but　that　he　was　obliged　to　obey　the　orders　of　his
superior。

〃They　now　continued；　'that　Suleiman　had　ruined　the　country；　that　he　had
kidnapped　all　the　women　and　children；　and　that　the　natives　had　fled　from
their　homes　as　the　result。'

〃I　was　much　struck　with　the　straightforward；　at　the　same　time　moderate
behaviour　of　the　native　chiefs。　I　accordingly　spared　Eddrees；　who　at
once　turned　evidence　against　Suleiman；　together　with　two　of　his　own
soldiers。

〃They　signed　a　declaration　as　witnesses　of　the　murder　of　the　native　by
Suleiman。　This　paper　was　formally　witnessed　and　signed　by　Lieutenant
Baker；　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　and　Captain　Mohammed　Deii。

〃The　punishment　having　been　awarded　and　the　prisoners　withdrawn；　but
secured　in　shebas　by　the　guard；　I　addressed　the　native　chiefs；　assuring
them　of　my　protection；　and　that　in　future　the　country　should　be　governed
with　perfect　justice；　that　property　and　the　rights　of　women　and　children
would　be　respected；　and　that　any　transgressor　of　the　law　would　be
punished。　I　explained　that　the　object　of　the　expedition　was　to　bring
prosperity；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　I　should　expect　fidelity　from　Kabba
Rega　and　his　people。　I　told　them　that　I　should　lead　the　prisoners　in
shebas　to　Kabba　Rega；　he　must　then　summon　a　general　assembly　of　his
chiefs　to　hear　and　witness　the　truth。

〃I　now　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　'destoor'　（retreat）；　and　the
troops　marched　back　to　their　quarters。

〃The　trial　was　over；　the　blue　lights　had　burnt　out；　and　we　were　now　in
comparative　darkness　beneath　the　banana　foliage；　with　a　feeble　lamp
glimmering　on　the　table。

〃The　native　chiefs　declared　their　perfect　confidence　in　the　government；
and　that　we　should　start　on　the　following　morning　direct　for　Masindi。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII。

MARCH　TO　MASINDI。

〃April　l5。The　latitude　of　Kisoona　was　2　degrees　2　minutes　36　seconds
N。　We　started　at　11　A。M。　till　1　P。M。；　reaching　Kasigaeight　miles
through　interminable　forest　full　of　fine　ripe　yellow　plums　and　unripe
custard　apples。

〃April　16。Started　at　8。20　A。M。　till　12arriving　at　Kokithick
forest　throughout　the　march。　We　passed　several　small　villages；　and　made
twelve　miles；　N。　lat。　1　degree　59　minutes。　I　gave　various　seeds　of
European　vegetables　to　the　headman；　and　I　myself　sowed　the　seeds　of
water…melons　and　sweet　melons　in　his　garden；　and　explained　their
cultivation。

〃April　17。All　the　carriers　have　absconded。　There　is　extensive
cultivation　in　this　district；　and　the　tobacco　is　well　attended；　as　the
tops　of　the　plants　are　carefully　nipped　off　to　prevent　them　from　running
too　much　into　stalk。

〃The　chief；　Kittakara；　who　is　a　kind　of　prime　minister　to　Kabba　Rega；
gave　me　this　afternoon　the　history　of　the　country。

〃Kabba　Rega　is　the　sixteenth　king　since　the　original　conquest　of　Unyoro
by　the　Gallas。　These　invaders　arrived　from　the　East；　beyond　the　country
of　the　Langgos。

〃To　this　day　a　peculiar　custom　is　observed。　Before　a　new　king　can　ascend
the　throne；　he　is　compelled　to　sleep　during　two　nights　on　the　east　of
the　Victoria　Nile。　He　then　marches　along　the　path　by　which　his
victorious　ancestor　invaded　Unyoro；　and　upon　reaching　the　river；　he
takes　boat　and　crosses　to　the　exact　landing…place　where　the　original
conqueror　first　set　his　foot　upon　the　frontier。

〃April　18。I　purchased　a　quantity　of　excellent　tobacco　and　divided　it
among　the　soldiers　as　a　reward　for　their　having　respected　the　native
gardens　during　the　march。

〃Kittakara　is　the　only　gentleman　that　I　have　seen　in　the　country；　and　he
never　asks　for　presents；　thus　forming　an　extraordinary　exception　to　the
rule　of　Unyoro　society。

〃I　gave　him　a　blue　blanket；　a　zinc　mirror；　a　spoon；　comb；　and　four　red
and　yellow　handkerchiefs。　To　Quonga　I　gave　a　tarboosh　（fez）；　and　four
yards　of　turkey　red　cloth。

〃April　19。Fresh　carriers　arrived；　and　we　started　at　10。45　A。M。；　and
halted　at　4　P。M。twelve　miles。　Forest　and　high　grass　as　usual
throughout　the　route；　which　would　render　this　country　highly　dangerous
in　case　of　hostilities。

〃The　lofty　mountains　on　the　west　shore　of　the　Albert　N'yanza　are　now　in
view　about　fifty　miles　distant。　We　halted　at　a　populous　district；　and
occupied　a　village　at　Chorobeze。

〃There　is　an　impression　of　general　ruin　in　passing　through　this
wonderfully　fertile　country。　The　slave…hunters　and　their　allies　have
produced　this　frightful　result　by　ransacking　the　district　for　slaves。
〃The　civil　dissensions　after　Kamrasi's　death　were　favourable　for　the
traders'　schemes。　The　two　sons；　Kabba　Rega　and　Kabka　Miro；　contended　for
the　throne。　The　latter　was　royally　born　by　sire　and　mother；　but　Kabba
Rega　was　a　son　by　a　shepherdess　of　the　Bahoomas。　The　throne　belonged　by
inheritance　to　Kabka　Miro；　who；　not　wishing　to　cause　a　civil　war；　and
thus　destroy　the　country；　challenged　his　brother　to　single　combat　in　the
presence　of　all　the　people。　The　victor　was　to　be　king。

〃Kabba　Rega　was　a　coward；　and　refused　the　challenge。　The　chivalrous
Kabka　Miro　again　offered　terms：Kabba　Rega；　as　the　son　of　the
shepherdess；　should　take　all　the　flocks　and　herds；　and　Kabka　Miro　would
occupy　the　throne。

〃Kabba　Rega；　like　most　cowards；　was　exceedingly　cunning　and　treacherous；
and；　with　the　alliance　of　Suleiman's　people；　he　shot　his　gallant
brother；　and　secured　both　the　throne　and　his　father's　flocks。〃

April　20。All　the　native　carriers　have；　as　usual；　absconded。　We　are　now
about　twenty…seven　riles　from　Masindi；　the　head…quarters　of　Kabba　Rega；
and　yet　there　are　no　signs　of　control。

〃I　ascended　a　small　hill　near　the　village；　and　sighted　the　waters　of　the
Albert　N'yanza；　due　west；　about　twenty　miles　distant。

〃April　21。About　fifty　natives　collected。　I　sent　off　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　with　the　prisoners　to　Kabba　Rega　to　complain　of　the　want　of
carriers　and　provisions。　I　ordered　him　to　disarm　all　the　traders'
people；　and　the　Baris　in　their　employ；　who　might　be　at　Masindi；　as　the
news　has　arrived　that　the　men　belonging　to　Suleiman　have　returned　to
Foweera　and　are　actually　taking　slaves　in　the　neighbourhood。

〃April　22。More　natives　collected。　I　sent　off　140　loads　in　charge　of
Morgian　Agha；　with　an　escort　of　twenty　soldiers；　and　the　herd　of　cattle。
The　latitude　of　Chorobeze　was　1　degrees　57　minutes　N。

〃April　23。The　natives　having　collected；　we　started　at　10。5　a。m。　I　was
obliged　to　walk；　as　my　good　horse；　'Greedy　Grey；'　is　sick。

〃The　route　was　through　forest　and　high　grass　as　usual。　We　marched
seventeen　miles；　and　halted　at　immense　groves　of　bananas　at　a　place
called　Jon　Joke。

〃The　baggage　and　cattle　arrived　after　sunset；　Morgian　Agha　having　been
deserted　yesterday　by　all　the　carriers。　As　usual；　throughout　the　route
the　water　is　bad。

〃Alas！　my　poor　horse；　‘Greedy　Grey；'　died　to…day。　He　was　the　most
perfect　of　all　the　horses　I　had　brought　from　Cairo。

〃April　24。…As　usual；　the　native　carriers　have　all　bolted！　Last　night　a
sergeant　arrived　with　a　letter　addressed　to　me　from　Abd…el…Kader；　who
has　carried　out　my　orders　at　Masindi　by　disarming　the　traders'　party。

〃April　25。…It　rained　throughout　the　night。　The　carriers　sent　by　Kabba
Rega　arrived　early。　We　started　at　8。15　a。m。；　and　marched　ten　miles；
arriving　at　last　at　the　capital　of　UnyoroMasindi。

〃This　large　town　is　situated　on　high　undulating　land　with　an　extensive
view；　bounded　on　the　west　by　the　range　of　mountains　bordering　the　Albert
N'yanza；　about　fifty　miles　distant。　The　country　is　open；　but　covered
with　high　grass。　A　succession　of　knolls；　all　more　or　less　ornamented
with　park…like　trees；　characterize　the　landscape；　which　slopes　gradually
down　towards　the　west；　and　drains　into　the　Albert　N'yanza；　which　is
about　twenty　miles　distant。

〃The　town　of　Masindi　is；　as　usual　throughout　Unyoro；　exceedingly
neglected；　and　is　composed　of　some　thousand　large　beehive…shaped　straw
huts；　without　any　arrangement　or　plan。

〃I　selected　a　position　beneath　a　large　banian…tree；　from　the　base　of
which　I　cleared　the　herbage；　and　having　pitched　the　tent；　the　natives
tore　up　about　an　acre　of　the　high　grass；　and　we　encamped　upon　the　clean
ground。

〃Kabba　Rega　sent　a　present　of　twenty…nine　loads　of　tullaboon　（a　small
seed；　Eleusine　Coracan）；　a　quantity　of　plantains　and　potatoes；　and　six
goats。

〃This　spot　is　in　N。　lat。　1　deg。　45　min。；　and　is　seventy…nine　miles；　by
our　route；　from　the　river　at　Foweera。　We　are　thus　322　miles　by　route
from　Ismailia　（Gondokoro）。

〃April　26。…I　visited　Kabba　Rega　officially；　with　the　officers　and　troops
in　full　uniform；　and　the　band　playing。

〃I　found　him　sitting　in　his　divan；　this　was　a　large　neatly…constructed
hut；　ornamented　with　some　very　common　printed　cotton　cloths；　which　had
arrived　via　Zanzibar。　Kabba　Rega　was　very　well　clad；　in　beautifully　made
bark…cloth　striped　with　black；　he　was　excessively　neat；　and　appeared　to
be　about　twenty　years　of　age。　He　gave　me　the　same　account　of　the
atrocious　proceedings　of　Abou　Saood's　companies　that　I　had　already
received　from　his　chiefs；　and　he　expressed　his　delight　at　my　arrival；
and　that　I　had　captured　Suleiman　and　some　of　his　people。

〃I　explained　the　intentions　of　the　Khedive　of　Egypt；　at　the　same　time　I
lamented　the　terrible　change　that　had　occurred　throughout　his　country
since　my　former　visit。　I　assured　him　that　the　future　would　be
prosperous；　and　that；　under　the　protection　of　Egypt；　he　would　never　have
further　cause　for　alarm。　I　then　summoned　the　prisoners　that　had　been
captured　and　disarmed　by　Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　and　having　explained　the
charges　against　them；　they　were　publicly　flogged　in　the　presence　of　a
multitude　of　Kabba　Rega's　people；　while　Suleiman　and　Eddrees　were　led
away　in　shebas；　to　the　astonishment　and　delight　of　all　beholders。

〃The　slaves　that　had　been　discovered　in　the　possession　of　Suleiman's
people　were　now　brought　forward；　and　having　been　identified　by　Kabba
Rega　and　his　people　as　belonging　to　Unyoro；　they　were　at　once　released；
and　I　returned　both　young　girls　and　boys　to　their　country。　One　woman　did
not　wish　to　leave　the　traders；　as　she　had　been　married　to　one　of　the
company　for　some　years；　and　had　several　children。

〃I　explained　that　they　were　actually　FREEto　remain　with　their　captors；
or　to　return　to　their　homes；　as　they　thought　proper。

〃This　was　a　good　opportunity　for　assuring　both　Kabba　Rega　and　this
people　that　I　should　restore　all　the　slaves　that　had　been　carried　out　of
their　country　to　the　various　stations　of　Abou　Saood　at　Fatiko；　Fabbo；
Faloro；　&c。

〃I　described　to　the　young　king　and　his　chiefs　that　I　was　determined　to
suppress　the　slave　trade；　and　that　I　had　hitherto　forborne　to　interfere
in　the　release　of　the　slaves　at　the　various　stations；　as　it　would　have
been　impossible　to　have　returned　them　to　their　distant　homes；　neither
could　I　have　supplied　them　with　food。　I　was　now　at　Masindi；　beyond　the
farthest　station　of　Abou　Saood；　and　I　should　certainly　insist　upon　the
return　of　every　slave　that　had　been　kidnapped　from　t