ismailia-第73章

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you　no　trouble　if　you　only　give　him　plenty　to　eat。　He'll　lie　down　and　go
to　sleep；　and　he'll　wake　up　hungry　again。　He's　a　good　boy；　indeed；　and
he's　my　only　son。　I'll　sell　him　to　you　for　a　molote！　（native　iron
spade）。〃

The　result　of　my　sermon　on　the　slave　trade；　addressed　to　this
affectionate　father；　was　quite　appalling。　I　was　offered　his　only　son　in
exchange　for　a　spade！　and　this　young　nigger　knave　of　spades　was
warranted　to　remain　always　hungry。

I　simply　give　this　anecdote　as　it　occurred　without　asserting　that　such
conduct　is　the　rule。　At　the　same　time；　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　among
the　White　Nile　tribes　any　number　of　male　children　might　be　purchased
from　their　parentsespecially　in　seasons　of　scarcity。

Girls　are　always　purchased；　if　required；　as　wives。　It　would　be　quite
impossible　to　obtain　a　wife　for　love　from　any　tribe　that　I　have　visited。
〃Blessed　is　he　that　hath　his　quiver　full　of　them〃　（daughters）。　A　large
family　of　girls　is　a　source　of　wealth　to　the　father；　as　he　sells　each
daughter　for　twelve　or　fifteen　cows　to　her　suitor。　Every　girl　is　certain
to　marry；　thus　a　dozen　daughters　will　bring　a　fortune　of　at　least　150
cows　to　their　parents　in　all　pastoral　countries。

In　Unyoro；　cattle　are　scarce；　and　they　belong　to　the　king；　therefore　the
girls　are　purchased　for　various　commoditiessuch　as　brass…coil
bracelets；　bark…cloths；　cotton　shirts；　ivory；　&c。

I　was　anxious　to　establish　a　new　and　legitimate　system　of　trade　in　this
country；　which　would　be　the　first　step　towards　a　higher　civilization。　I
accordingly　devoted　every　energy　to　the　completion　of　the　station；　in
which　we　were　assisted　by　the　natives；　under　the　direction　of　their
various　headmen。

The　order　and　organization　of　Unyoro　were　a　great　contrast　to　the　want
of　cohesion　of　the　northern　tribes。　Every　district　throughout　the
country　was　governed　by　a　chief；　who　was　responsible　to　the　king　for　the
state　of　his　province。　This　system　was　extended　to　sub…governors　and　a
series　of　lower　officials　in　every　district；　who　were　bound　to　obey　the
orders　of　the　lord…lieutenant。　Thus　every　province　bad　a　responsible
head；　that　could　be　at　once　cut　off　should　disloyalty　or　other　signs　of
bad　government　appear　in　a　certain　district。

In　the　event　of　war；　every　governor　could　appear；　together　with　his
contingent　of　armed　men；　at　a　short　notice。

These　were　the　rules　of　government　that　had　been　established　for　many
generations　throughout　Unyoro。

The　civil　war　had　ceased；　and　Kabba　Rega　having　ascended　the　throne；　the
country　had　again　fallen　into　the　order　that　a　previous　good
organization　rendered　easy。

The　various　headmen　of　the　district　now　appeared　daily；　with　their　men
laden　with　thatch　grass　and　canes　for　the　construction　of　the　station。

I　commenced　a　government　house；　and　a　private　dwelling　adjoining　for
myself。

On　my　first　arrival　at　Masindi　I　had　begged　Kabba　Rega　to　instruct　his
people　to　clear　away　about　fifty　acres　of　grass　around　our　station；　and
to　break　up　the　ground　for　cultivation；　as　I　wished　my　troops　to　sow　and
reap　their　own　corn；　instead　of　living　at　the　expense　of　the　natives。

The　system；　both　in　Uganda　and　Unyoro；　is　bad　and　unjust。

Should　visitors　arrive；　they　are　not　allowed　to　purchase　food　from　the
people；　but　they　must　be　fed　by　the　king's　order　at　the　cost　of　the
inhabitants。　This　generally　results　in　their　not　being　fed　at　all；　as
the　natives　quit　the　neighbourhood。

I　had　suffered　much　from　hunger　in　Unyoro；　during　my　former　visit；　in
the　reign　of　Kamrasi；　therefore　I　wished　to　protect　myself　against
famine　by　a　timely　cultivation　of　the　surrounding　fertile　land；　which
was　now　covered　with　rank　grass　about　nine　feet　high。

In　a　military　point　of　view　it　was　impolitic　to　sit　down　within　a
station　incircled　by　a　dense　grass　covert；　and　although　I　had　not　the
most　remote　suspicion　of　hostility　in　this　country；　I　preferred　a
situation　whence　we　could　enjoy　an　extensive　landscape。

The　Albert　N'yanza　lay　distant　about　twenty　miles　on　the　west；　in　the
deep　basin　which　characterizes　this　extraordinary　sheet　of　water。
Immense　volumes　of　cloud　rose　in　the　early　morning　from　the　valley　which
marked　the　course　of　the　lake；　as　the　evaporation　from　the　great　surface
of　water　condensed　into　mist；　when　it　rose　to　the　cooler　atmosphere　of
the　plateau　1；500　feet　above　the　level。

The　proposal　of　farming　did　not　appear　to　please　Kabba　Rega。　It　was
explained　that　the　men　were　not　accustomed　to　labour　in　the　fields；　as
agricultural　work　was　performed　by　the　women；　all　of　whom　were　now
absent　and　engaged　in　preparing　their　own　land。

Although　Masindi　was　a　large　town；　I　was　struck　by　the　absence　of
females。　The　only　women　that　I　saw　were　two；　one　of　whom　was　the　pretty
wife　of　Umbogo　the　dragoman。　It　has　already　been　explained；　that　the
absence　of　women　generally　denotes　hostility；　but　as　the　rainy　season
necessitated　hard　work；　I　accepted　the　explanation。

The　corn　for　the　supply　of　Masindi　was　brought　from　a　distance　of　two
days'　journey；　and　numbers　of　people　were　daily　employed　in　going　to　and
fro　for　the　general　provisions　of　the　station。

The　slave…hunters　belonging　to　Suleiman；　who　were　now　prisoners　under　a
guard；　numbered　twenty…five　men：　I　employed　these　people　daily　to　clear
away　the　high　grass；　which　was　piled　and　burnt；　the　ashes　were　then
spread；　and　the　ground　was　hoed　up　and　thoroughly　prepared　by　the
troops。

It　was　in　vain　that　I　urged　upon　Kabba　Rega　and　his　chiefs　the　necessity
of　cultivation　for　the　supply　of　corn　requisite　for　the　troops。　Every
day　they　promised　to　clear　away　the　grass；　provided　the　soldiers　would
then　dig　and　prepare　the　ground。　This　I　agreed　to　do；　but　the　natives
showed　no　intention　of　working。

I　began　to　suspect　that　Kabba　Rega　had　an　objection　to　a　large　open
clearing。　The　tactics　of　all　natives　are　concealment；　if　a　man　is
frightened；　he　hides　in　the　grass；　in　case　of　hostilities；　the　high
grass　is　a　fortress　to　the　negro。　It　became　evident　that　we　were　to
remain　surrounded　by　this　dense　herbage；　which　not　only　obstructed　the
view；　but　rendered　the　station　damp　and　dreary。

I　explained　to　the　chiefs　the　folly　of　Kabba　Rega　in　thus　neglecting
such　magnificent　soil；　which；　with　a　little　labour；　would　produce　all
that　we　could　require；　and　would　save　both　him　and　his　people　the
trouble　of　feeding　us。　At　the　same　time　I　set　all　hands　of　my　own　people
to　clear　a　large　space　and　to　make　gardens。

Unyoro　had　always　been　a　country　of　cowardice　and　suspicion；　and　I　could
plainly　see　that　we　were　narrowly　watched。　Kabba　Rega　usually　sat　in　his
public　divan　from　about　two　p。m。　till　4　daily；　to　transact　public
business。　This　large　circular　building　was　extremely　neat；　and　the
ground　was　carefully　strewed　with　the　long　fringes　of　the　papyrus　rush；
after　the　fashion　of　our　ancestors　in　England；　who；　before　the
introduction　of　carpets；　strewed　the　floor　with　rushes。

The　young　king　informed　me　that；　as　he　wished　to　be　in　constant
communication　with　me　personally；　he　should　build　a　new　divan　within　a
few　yards　of　my　residence；　so　that　we　could　converse　upon　all　occasions
without　being　watched　by　his　people。

This　was　merely　an　excuse　for　erecting　a　building　within　fifty　yards　of
my　house；　from　which　his　guards　could　watch　all　that　happened；　and
report　everything　to　their　master。

The　new　building　was　constructed　with　wonderful　quickness；　and　prettily
walled　with　canes　inside　to　resemble　basket…work。

Kabba　Rega　came　to　his　new　divan；　attended　by　a　number　of　his　guards；　or
bonosoora；　armed　with　guns。　To　give　him　confidence；　I　went　to　see　him
unattended；　except　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　my　ever…faithful　attendant；
Monsoor；　who　did　not　at　all　approve　of　my　going　unarmed。

The　conversation　quickly　turned　upon　guns。　Kabba　Rega　was　delighted　with
the　mechanism　of　Monsoor's　snider　rifle；　which　he　at　once　understood　and
explained　to　his　body…guard。　He　appeared　to　have　quite　lost　his　shyness；
and　he　begged　me　to　consider　him　simply　in　the　light　of　my　own　son；　and
to　give　him　all　the　merchandise　AT　ONCE　that　I　had　brought　with　me　to
establish　a　new　trade。

I　told　him　that　fathers　did　not　give　their　sons　all　their　property　at
once；　but　that　if　I　saw　that　he　performed　his　duty　to　the　Khedive；　he
need　not　fear。　I　had　both　the　power　and　the　good…will　to　reward　him。

He　continued　the　conversation　precisely　according　to　his　late　father
Kamrasi's　style：　〃I　have　no　one　but　yourself　to　regard。　Does　not　a
father　consider　the　interests　of　his　son？　You　were　my　father's　friend；
and　I　have　always　looked　for　your　return。　I　knew　that　Abou　Saood　was　a
liar　when　he　spoke　against　you；　I　knew　that　he　was　an　impostor　when　he
announced　himself　as　the　son　of　a　sultan。　Would　the　son　of　a　sultan　only
give　me　a　present　of　an　old　carpet　and　a　dirty　washing…basin？　I　always
said；　'Wait　till　the　Pacha　comes'；　Mallegge；　（Mallegge；　or　the　Man　with
the　Beard；　was　my　nickname　in　Unyoro　during　my　former　journey。）　my
father's　friend。　He　is　truly　a　great　man；　who　does　not　travel
empty…handed；　and　he　will　bring　me　presents　worth　my　acceptancethings
that　the　impostor；　Abou　Saood；　does　not　understand　the　use　of。'　By　the
by；　there　was　a　magic　instrument　with　which　you　could　find　your　way
without　a　guide　in　strange　countries；　that　you　PROMISED　to　send　to　my
father；　you　have；　of　course；　brought　it　for　me？〃

This　demand　amused　me　much；　as　I　well　remembered　how　Kamrasi　had
bothered　me　for　my　compass。　I　pretended　that　he　meant　a　watch；　which　I
had　already　given　him。

At　length　I　was　obliged　to　promise　that　if　he　would　clear　away　the　grass
and　cultivate　the　neighbouring　ground；　I　would　give　him　a　compass。

I　now　explained　the　advantages　of　free　trade；　and　I　begged　him　to　order
his　men　to　complete　the　government　house　without　delay；　as　I　could　not
unpack　my　numerous　boxes　until　I　had　some　place　where　I　could　exhibit
the　contents。　I　described　the　difficulties　of　the　route　from　Khartoum；
and　the　expense　of　transport　from　Gondokoro；　owing　to　the　unwillingness
of　the　Baris　to　carry　loads；　and　I　explained　my　intention　of　erecting
steamers　on　the　Nile　which　would　bring　all　kinds　of　merchandise　to
Unyoro　via　the　Albert　N'yanza　in　exchange　for　ivory；　thus　the　Zanzibar
trade　would　turn　towards　the　north　and　the　elephants'　tusks　that　were
now　purchased　by　M'tese；　would　remain　in　Unyoro；　until　delivered　to　the
Khedive's　government　in　barter　for　manufactured　goods。

The　name　of　M'tese　seemed　to　make　him　uncomfortable。　　He　replied：　〃You
are　my　father；　and　you　will　stand　by　your　son　against　his　enemies。　This
M'tese　troubles　me。　In　my　father　Kamrasi's　lifetime　he　frequently
attacked　us；　and　carried　off　our　herds　together　with　our　women　and
children。　He　is　too　strong　to　resist　single…handed；　but　now　that　you　are
hero　I　shall　have　no　fear。　Don't　let　us　talk　about　merchandise；　that
will　come　in　due　time；　never　mind　trade；　let　us　talk　about　guns　and
gunpowder。　You　must　give　me　muskets　and　ammunition　in　large　quantities；
I　will　then　arm　all　my　bonosoora　（soldiers）　and　with　your　assistance　I
will　fight　M'tese。　I　will　then　fill　your　large　new　house　with　ivory　for
the　Khedive。〃

〃There　is　no　time　to　lose；　you　PROMISED　to　fight　R