ismailia-第77章

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I　wrote　to　Wat…el…Mek　to　offer　him　the　command　of　an　irregular　corps　of
400　men；　which　he　was　to　raise　immediately　from　those　companies　that
were　now　thrown　out　of　employment　by　the　termination　of　the　contract
with　Agad　&　Co。

I　sent　written　instructions　to　Major　Abdullah　to　arrest　Abou　Saood；　and
to　liberate　all　the　Unyoro　slaves　in　the　possession　of　his　people。　He
was　then　to　forward　Abou　Saood；　together　with　Suleiman；　as　prisoners；　to
the　care　of　Raouf　Bey　at　Gondokoro；　and　to　march　himself　with　his
detachment　and　all　effects；　together　with　the　liberated　slaves；　to
Foweera。

Three　hundred　natives　accompanied　my　party　from　Unyoro　to　transport　the
baggage　of　Major　Abdullah。

I　had　not　seen　Kabba　Rega　since　the　day　when　he　had　lied　concerning　the
possession　of　the　muskets　and　ammunition。　Whether　from　shame　or　anger　I
could　not　tell；　but　he　declined　to　appear。

The　party　started　with　the　post；　thus　reducing　my　force　by　the　departure
of　thirty…six　men；　including　eleven　regulars　and　twenty…five　of　the　new
irregular　levy。

I　was　now　left　with　one　hundred　regulars；　four　sailors；　and　four　armed
Baris。



CHAPTER　XX。

ESTABLISH　COMMERCE。

For　some　time　past　the　natives　had　commenced　a　brisk　trade　with　ivory　in
exchange　for　all　kinds　of　trifles；　which　left　a　minimum　profit　for　the
government　of　1500　per　cent。　A　few　beads；　together　with　three　or　four
gaudy…coloured　cotton　handkerchiefs；　a　zinc　mirror；　and　a　fourpenny
butcher's　knife；　would　purchase　a　tusk　worth　twenty　or　thirty　pounds。　I
calculated　all　the　expenses　of　transport　from　England；　together　with
interest　on　capital。　In　some　cases　we　purchased　ivory　at　2；000　per　cent。
profit；　and　both　sellers　and　buyers　felt　perfectly　contented。

I　am　not　sure　whether　this　is　considered　a　decent　return　for　an
investment　of　capital　among　the　descendants　of　Israel；　but　I　am
convinced　that　at　the　conclusion　of　a　purchase　in　Unyoro　each　party　to
the　bargain　thought　that　he　had　the　best　of　it。　This　was　the　perfection
of　business。

Here　was　free　trade　thoroughly　established：　the　future　was　tinged　with　a
golden　hue。　Ivory　would　be　almost　inexhaustible；　as　it　would　flow　from
both　east　and　west　to　the　market　where　such　luxuries　as　twopenny
mirrors；　fourpenny　knives；　handkerchiefs；　ear…rings　at　a　penny　a　pair；
finger　signet…rings　at　a　shilling　a　dozen；　could　be　obtained　for　such
comparatively　useless　lumber　as　elephants'　tusks。

Manchester　goods　would　quickly　supersede　the　bark…cloths；　which　were
worn　out　in　a　month；　and；　in　a　few　years；　every　native　of　Unyoro　would
be　able　to　appear　in　durable　European　clothes。　Every　man　would　be　able
to　provide　himself　with　a　comfortable　blanket　for　the　chilly　nights；　and
an　important　trade　would　be　opened　that　would　tend　to　the　development　of
the　country；　and　be　the　first　step　towards　a　future　civilization。
Unfortunately　for　this　golden　vision；　the　young　king；　Kabba　Rega；
considered　that　he　had　a　right　to　benefit　himself　exclusively；　by
monopolizing　the　trade　with　the　government。　He　therefore　gave　orders　to
his　people　that　all　ivory　should　be　brought　to　him；　and　he　strictly
prohibited；　on　pain　of　death；　the　free　trade　that　I　had　endeavoured　to
establish。

The　tusks　ceased　to　arrive；　or；　if　any　individual　was　sufficiently
audacious　to　run　the　risk　of　detection；　he　sent　word　beforehand；　by
Monsoor　（who　was　known　to　be　confidential）；　that　he　would　bring　a　tusk
for　sale　during　the　darkness　of　night。

This　was　a　troublesome　affair。　Annexation　is　always　a　difficult　question
of　absolute　right；　but；　as　I　trust　my　readers　will　acknowledge；　I　had
done　all　that　lay　in　my　power　for　the　real　benefit　of　the　country。　I　had
to　make　allowance　for　the　young　king；　who　now　had　become　a　vassal；　and　I
determined　to　observe　the　extreme　of　moderation。

It　was　generally　acknowledged　that　the　conduct　of　the　troops　was　most
exemplary。　No　thefts　had　been　allowed；　nor　even　those　trifling
annexations　of　property　which　are　distinguished　from　stealing　by　the
innocent　name　of　〃cribbing。〃　Not　a　garden　had　been　disturbed；　the
tempting　tobacco　plantations　had　been　rigidly　respected；　and　the　natives
could　only　regard　my　troops　as　the　perfection　of　police。　They　were
almost　as　good　as　London　policethere　were　no　areas　to　the　houses；
neither　insinuating　cooks　or　housemaids；　nor　even　nursemaids　with　babies
in　perambulators；　to　distract　their　attention　from　their　municipal
duties。

Among　my　troops　there　was　an　excellent　young　man；　named　Ramadan；　who　was
the　clerk　of　the　detachment。　This　intelligent　young　fellow　was　a　general
favourite　among　our　own　men；　and　also　among　the　natives。　He　had　a　great
aptitude　for　languages；　and　he　quickly　mastered　sufficient　of　the　Unyoro
to　make　himself　understood。

I　arranged　that　Ramadan　should　become　the　schoolmaster；　as　it　would　be
useless　to　establish　commerce　as　a　civilizing　medium　without　in　some　way
commencing　a　system　of　education。

Ramadan　was　proud　at　the　idea　of　being　selected　for　this　appointment。

There　was　a　son　of　Kittakara's；　of　about　nine　years　old；　named
Cherri…Merri。　This　nice　little　boy　had　paid　us　many　visits；　and　had
become　a　great　favourite　of　my　wife's。　He　usually　arrived　after
breakfast；　and　was　generally　to　be　found　sitting　on　a　mat　at　her　feet；
playing　with　some　European　toys　that　were　his　great　delight；　and　gaining
instruction　by　conversation　through　the　interpreter。

Although　Cherri…Merri　was　a　good　boy；　he　possessed　the　purely　commercial
instinct　of　Unyoro。　He　seldom　arrived　without　a　slave　attendant；　who
carried　on　his　head　a　package　of　something　that　was　to　be　SOLD。

He　was　told　that　it　was　bad　taste　to　bring　articles　for　sale　to　people
who　had　shown　him　kindness；　at　the　same　time　no　presents　would　be
received。　The　little　trader　quickly　relieved　himself　of　this　difficulty
by　marching　off　with　his　slave　and　package　to　the　soldiers'　camp；　where
he　exchanged　his　flour　or　tobacco　for　metal　buttons；　which　they　cut　off
their　uniforms；　or　for　beads；　or　other　trifles　which　they　possessed。

Cherri…Merri　was　a　general　favourite；　and　he　was　to　form　the　nucleus　for
the　commencement　of　a　school。

The　station　was　now　in　perfect　order。　Altogether；　including　the
soldiers'　gardens；　about　three　acres　had　been　cleared　and　planted。
Everything　was　well　above　ground；　and　was　growing　with　that　rapidity
which　can　only　be　understood　by　those　who　have　witnessed　the　vegetation
of　the　tropics　on　the　richest　soil。

English　cucumbers；　varieties　of　melons；　pumpkins；　tomatoes；　Egyptian
radishes；　onions；　Egyptian　cotton；　&c。；　were　all　flourishing。　Also　a
small　quantity　of　wheat。

Every　cottage　was　surrounded　by　a　garden；　the　boys　had　formed
partnerships；　and；　having　been　provided　with　seeds；　they　had　beds　of
pumpkins　already　nearly　a　foot　above　the　ground。

The　girls　and　women…servants　were　as　usual　extremely　industrious；　they
also　had　formed　little　companies；　and　the　merits　of　the　rival　gardens
were　often　warmly　discussed。

Three　acres　of　land；　thus　carefully　cultivated；　made　a　very　civilized
appearance。　The　cucumber　plants　had　grown　wonderfully；　and　had　already
formed　fruit。　Not　a　leaf　was　withered　or　attacked　by　insects；　and　both
the　soil　and　climate　of　Masindi　were　perfection　for　agricultural
experiments。　The　thermometer　generally　stood　at　62　degrees　F　at　six
a。m。；　and　at　78　degrees　F　at　noon。　The　air　was　always　fresh　and
invigorating；　as　the　altitude　above　the　sea…level　was　nearly　4；000　feet。

An　industrious　population　would　have　made　a　paradise　of　this　country；
but　the　Unyoro　people　are　the　laziest　that　I　have　ever　seen。　The　days
were　passed　either　in　sleep；　or　by　the　assembly　of　large　crowds　of
idlers；　who　stood　at　the　entrance　of　the　broad；　gravelled　approach；　and
simply　watched　our　proceedings。

The　only　excitement　was　produced　by　the　sudden　rush　of　Kabba　Rega's
guards　（bonosoora）　with　big　sticks　among　the　crowd；　whom　they　belaboured
and　chased；　generally　possessed　themselves　of　the　best　garments　of　those
who　were　captured；　with　which　they　returned　to　their　quarters；　as　lawful
prizes。

This　daring　system　of　thieving　was　considered　as　great　fun　by　all　those
members　of　the　crowd　who　had　escaped；　and　the　unfortunates　who　had　been
reduced　to　nudity　by　the　loss　of　their　garments　were　jeered　and
ridiculed　by　the　mob　with　true　Unyoro　want　of　charity。

These　bonosoora　were　an　extraordinary　collection　of　scoundrels。

The　readers　of　〃The　Albert　N'yanza〃　may　remember　the　〃Satanic　Escort；〃
with　which　I　was　furnished　by　Kamrasi　for　my　journey　from　M'rooli　to　the
lake；　these　were　bonosoora。　I　could　never　learn　the　exact　number　that
formed　Kabba　Rega's　celebrated　regiment　of　blackguards；　but　I　should
imagine　there　were　above　1；000　men　who　constantly　surrounded　him；　and
gained　their　living　by　pillaging　others。

Any　slave　who　ran　away　from　his　master　might　find　an　asylum　if　he
volunteered　to　enlist　in　the　bonosoora。　Every　man　who　had　committed　some
crime；　or　who　could　not　pay　his　debts；　could　find　a　refuge　by　devoting
himself　to　the　personal　care　of　the　young　king；　and　enrolling　within　the
ranks　of　the　royal　guards。　The　general　character　of　these　ruffians　may
be　easily　imagined。　They　lounged　away　their　time；　and　simply　relieved
the　monotony　of　their　existence　by　robbing　passers…by　of　anything　that
attracted　their　cupidity。

Umbogo　belonged　to　this　celebrated　corps；　and　he　informed　me　that　hardly
a　night　passed　without　some　person　being　murdered　by　these　people；　who
would　always　kill　a　man　after　dark；　unless　he　yielded　up　his　property
without　resistance。　The　great　number　of　vultures　that　continually
hovered　over　Masindi　were　proofs　of　Umbogo's　story；　as　these　birds
generally　denote　the　presence　of　carrion。　My　men　had；　on　several
occasions；　found　bodies　lying　in　the　high　grass；　neatly　picked　to　the
bone；　which　had　only　recently　died。

There　was　much　to　be　done　before　the　brutal　customs　of　Unyoro　could　be
reformed：　and　I　was　by　no　means　satisfied　with　the　conduct　exhibited　by
Kabba　Rega。　He　had　promised　faithfully　that　he　would　send　a　large　force
to　clear　away　the　high　grass　by　which　our　station　was　surrounded；　this
was　never　fulfilled；　neither　could　I　engage　the　natives　to　work　for
hire。

I　had　observed　for　some　time　past　that　his　people　were　rapidly　extending
the　town　of　Masindi；　by　erecting　new　buildings　upon　both　our　flanks；
which；　although　only　a　few　yards　from　our　clearing；　were　half　obscured
by　the　high　grass；　thus　it　appeared　that　we　were　being　gradually
surrounded。

Since　the　departure　of　the　post　with　my　escort　and　the　irregular　levy；
nothing　was　done　by　the　natives；　except　the　usual　lounging　by　day；　and
drinking　and　howling；　with　drums　and　horns　as　an　accompaniment；
throughout　the　night。

Kabba　Rega　had　always　declared　that　the　natives　would　work　for　me　and
obey　every　order　when　the　slave…hunters　should　have　been　expelled　from
the　country。　Although　the　people　who　were　lately　a　portion　of　the
slave…hunter's　company　had　now　been　enlisted　in　the　service　of
government；　not　one　man　remained　in　Masindi；　as　I　had　sent　them　all　away
to　Fatiko；　at　the　particular　request　of　Kabba　Rega。

The　real　fact　was；　that　so　long　as　the　slave…trader's　people　were　in　the
country；　both　the　king　and　his　peop