ismailia-第79章

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fence。

The　officers　were　of　course　inside　the　square。　I　gave　the　men　strict
orders　not　to　fire　under　any　provocation；　unless　I　gave　the　word　of
command；　and　attended　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　Monsoor；　the　latter　with
his　sword　drawn；　I　left　the　square；　and　walked　into　the　middle　of　the
crowd；　towards　the　three　chiefs；　Rahonka；　Kittakara；　and　Matonse；　who
were　all　standing　with　lances　in　their　hands；　and　apparently　prepared
for　action。

Although　the　situation　was　full　of　meaning；　I　thought　the　best　policy
was　to　appear　amused。　At　this　moment　Monsoor　struck　up　with　his　sword；　a
lance；　which　one　of　the　frantic　warriors；　in　the　midst　of　his　wild
gesticulations；　had　advanced　within　a　few　inches　of　my　back。

The　interpreters　（many　of　whom　I　knew　well）　were　all　armed　with　muskets；
and　the　bonosoora　were　dressed　in　their　usual　fantastic　manner　when
prepared　for　war；　a　considerable　number　were　provided　with　guns。

The　slightest　accident　would　have　caused　a　general　outbreak　of
hostilities。　I　had　eighty　men　on　the　ground；　the　remainder　of　the　force
were　at　the　station；　about　three　hundred　yards　distant；　where　Lady
Baker；　and　all　stores　and　ammunition；　would　have　been　in　extreme　danger；
had　an　attack　become　general。

I　at　once　walked　up　to　Rahonka　and　Kittakara；　and　calling　an
interpreter；　named　Kadji…Barri；　who　was　standing　near　them；　dressed　in
Arab　clothes；　with　his　musket　in　his　hand；　and　his　cartouche…belt　on　his
waist；　I　burst　out　laughing；　and　exclaimed：　〃Well　done；　Kadji…Barri！
this　is　famously　managed；　let　us　have　a　general　dance。　Ash　Kitiakitri　if
my　band　shall　play；　or　will　you　dance　to　your　own　music？〃

This　was　immediately　translated　to　the　chiefs；　and　my　demeanour　seemed
to　cause　some　hesitation。　I　at　once　ordered　our　band　to　strike　up。

The　instant　that　a　well…known　lively　air　commenced；　I　begged　them　to
exhibit　some　native　dance　to　amuse　us。　Seeing　their　hesitation；　I
inquired　whether　they　would　wish　to　see　my　men　perform？　After　a　few
words　between　Kittakara　and　Rahonka；　the　former　agreed　that　it　would　be
better　for　my　men　to　commence　the　dance　first。

I　lost　no　time　in　explaining　to　Kittakara。　At　that　he　must　at　once
address　the　crowd　and　assure　them　that　the　performance　about　to　commence
was　intended　for　their　amusement；　and　there　was　no　cause　for　fear。　At
the　same　time；　I　begged　him　to　order　the　crowd　to　stand　back；　and　to
afford　space　for　my　troops；　who　were　about　to　advance　with　the　bayonet。

In　a　loud　voice　Kittakara　gave　the　necessary　explanation。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　advance；　and　the　whole　band　sounded
the　charge　with　the　bayonet　（sinjatre　doran）。

At　the　inspiriting　call；　each　side　of　the　square　advanced　at　the　double
with　bayonets　at　the　charge。　The　crowd；　lately　so　demonstrative；　fell
quickly　back；　and；　having　thus　cleared　the　square；　I　told　Kittakara　to
order　every　individual　of　the　crowd　to　sit　down　upon　the　ground。

The　great　mass　of　people　obeyed　the　order　with　the　discipline　of
soldiers；　and　my　troops　fell　back　and　re…formed　their　square　as　before。
The　little　square；　with　a　single　line　of　front　of　twenty　men；　now
occupied　the　centre　of　the　clear　space。

I　lost　no　time　in　inquiring　for　Kabba　Rega；　whom　I　insisted　upon　seeing。
After　a　short　delay　he　appeared；　in　company　of　some　of　his　bonosoora。　He
was　in　a　beastly　state　of　intoxication；　and；　after　reeling　about　with　a
spear　in　his　hand；　he　commenced　a　most　imbecile　attempt　at　warlike
gestures。

Had　my　eighty　men　been　armed　with　breech…loaders；　I　could　have　mown　down
hundreds　by　a　fire　from　the　square；　had　hostilities　been　forced　upon　us；
but；　as　the　greater　portion　were　armed　with　old　muskets；　we　might　have
been　overwhelmed　by　a　general　rush；　when　reloading　after　the　first
volley。

Kabba　Rega　was　so　drunk　that　he　did　not　appear　to　recognize　me；　but　he
continued　to　reel　about　for　a　short　time；　and　thus　to　expose　his　idiotic
condition；　until　his　chiefs　at　length　recommended　him　to　retire。

Kittakara　now　explained　that；　if　I　wished　to　have　a　general　dance；　they
would　prepare　a　grand　entertainment　at　some　future　time；　but　he　now
begged　me　to　withdraw　the　troops；　as　the　sun　was　very　hot；　and　the
natives　were　fatigued。

I　assured　Kittakara　and　the　chiefs　that　the　people　had　no　cause　for
fear；　and　that　now　that　my　station　was　completed　I　should　frequently
bring　the　troops　to　the　public　square　for　musketry　drill；　as　there　was
no　other　open　space；　unless　Kabba　Rega　would　order　his　people　to　clear
away　the　high　grass；　which　he　had　so　often　promised　to　do。

The　band　now　struck　up；　and　the　troops；　in　single　file；　marched　through
the　narrow　lanes　of　the　crowded　town。　I　walked　at　their　head；　and　I　was
much　pleased　by　seeing　my　little　friend；　Cherri…Merri；　who　ran　out　of
the　crowd；　and　taking　my　hand；　he　marched　with　us　as　a　volunteer；　and
accompanied　us　to　the　station。

Upon　arrival　at　the　government　quarters；　I　found　all　hands　armed　and
well　stationed　for　the　defence　of　the　divan　and　powder…magazine；　by　my
wife；　who　was　commandant　in　my　absence。　She　had　placed　rockets　in
readiness　to　fire　the　town　on　the　instant　of　a　volley　of　musketry　being
heard。　My　good　little　officer　had　also　laid　out　a　large　supply　of　spare
ammunition；　together　with　every　gun；　rifle；　and　pistol；　all　of　which
were　laid　on　a　table　in　the　divan；　ready　to　repel　an　attack。

I　now　sent　for　Rahonka；　who　was　supposed　to　be　the　general　of　Kabba
Rega's　forces。

The　conduct　of　little　Cherri…Merri　was　very　gratifying；　as　he　had
adhered　to　his　true　friends　in　a　moment　of　great　uncertainty。

Rahonka　shortly　appeared。　　My　interpreter；　Umbogo；　was　absent　on　leave
for　two　days　to　visit　his　farm；　thus　Rahonka　was　accompanied　by
Kadji…Barri；　who　was　well　accustomed　to　us；　and　had　often　received
presents。

I　now　insisted　upon　an　explanation　concerning　the　sudden　beating　of　the
war…drum　and　the　extraordinary　assembly　of　the　people　armed　for　war。
Rahonka　looked　foolish　and　nervous；　as　though　he　doubted　the　chance　of　a
safe　retreat。　He　could　not　give　any　satisfactory　reason　for　the　hostile
display　we　had　so　recently　witnessed；　but　he　attributed　it　to　the
drunken　state　of　Kabba　Rega；　who　had　sounded　the　alarm　without　any
reason。

I　assured　Rahonka　that　such　conduct　would　not　be　permitted；　and　that　if
such　a　scene　should　occur　again；　I　should　not　allow　the　troops　to　be
surrounded　by　thousands　of　armed　men；　in　hostile　attitudes；　without
immediately　taking　the　initiative。

Rahonka　retired；　and　in　a　few　minutes　we　received　twenty　loads　of　corn
for　the　troops；　as　a　peace…offering。

Thus　ended　the　month　of　May；　which　had　nearly　closed　in　bloodshed。

There　could　be　no　doubt　that　an　attack　upon　the　troops　had　been
intended；　and　I　could　not　help　admiring　the　organization　of　the　people；
that　enabled　so　large　a　force　to　be　concentrated　upon　a　given　point　in　a
few　minutes　after　the　alarm　had　sounded。　My　wife；　upon　whose　cool
judgment　I　could　always　depend；　described　vividly　her　apprehensions　of
treachery。　She　had　witnessed　the　extraordinary　energy　which　the　natives
had　exhibited　in　rushing　from　the　neighbouring　villages；　almost
immediately　when　the　war…drum　had　sounded。　They　had　poured　in　streams
past　the　station；　and　had　brandished　their　lances　and　shields　at　her　as
they　thronged　at　full　speed　within　fifty　yards　of　the　government
clearing。

Fortunately；　when　the　big　nogara　had　sounded；　both　she　and　the　troops
understood　the　signal；　and　with　praiseworthy　speed　she　had　placed　every
man　in　position　to　defend　the　station。　Even　the　servants　and　our　black
boys　were　armed；　and　occupied　the　posts　assigned　to　them。　Without　these
precautions　it　is　highly　probable　that　the　station　would　have　been
attacked；　in　which　case　it　might　have　been　at　once　overwhelmed　by　so
immense　a　superiority　of　force。

I　felt　that　on　the　whole　we　had　narrowly　escaped　from　ruin。　My
intention；　when　in　the　open　square；　had　been　to　seize　a　rifle　from　a
soldier；　and　at　once　to　shoot　Kabba　Rega　had　hostilities　commenced　after
his　appearance；　but；　even　had　we　been　able　to　hold　our　own；　with　a　party
of　eighty　men；　we　should　have　lost　the　entire　station；　together　with　all
our　ammunition；　and　every　soul　would　have　been　massacred。

I　had　serious　misgivings　for　the　future。　This　demonstration　looked
extremely　bad　after　the　departure　of　my　thirty…six　men　with　the　post　to
Fatiko。　If　Kabba　Rega　and　his　people　were　treacherous；　they　could　easily
murder　the　party　whom　they　were　pretending　to　escort　as　friends。

On　the　other　hand；　I　could　not　conceive　why　Kabba　Rega　or　his　people
should　be　ill…disposed；　unless　he　harboured　resentment　on　account　of　the
discovery　of　his　theft　of　the　muskets　and　ammunition　from　the
irregulars；　which　I　had　forced　him　to　restore。

My　Baris　and　Molodi　all　declared　that　he　was　suspicious　because　I　had
pardoned　the　slave…hunters　and　received　them　into　government　service。
This　merciless　young　villain；　who　had　so　treacherously　murdered　his　own
kith　and　kin；　had　no　conception　of　forgiveness；　thus　he　could　not
understand　why　I　had　not　killed　the　slave…hunters　when　they　were　once　in
my　power。

There　was　no　doubt　that　discontent　rankled　deeply　in　his　heart　for　some
cause　or　other；　as　he　had　never　appeared；　or　received　visits；　for　many
days；　but　had　sulkily　shut　himself　up　within　his　own　court。

He　only　went　out　daily；　at　a　certain　time；　to　collect　subscriptions　for
the　pay　of　his　beloved　rascals；　the　bonosoora；　but　this　led　him　through
the　town　in　the　opposite　direction　to　our　camp；　therefore　we　never　saw
him。

The　collection　of　alms　was　a　most　undignified　proceeding。　At　the　hour　of
his　exit　from　his　house；　a　band　of　fifes　or　flageolets　struck　up　a
peculiar　air　which　was　well　known　as　the　signal　for　preparing　to　pay　for
the　king's　visit。　The　few　notes　they　played　was　a　monotonous　repetition
of　：

As　his　pipes　played　before　him；　Kabba　Rega　called　at　any　houses　that　he
thought　proper　to　select；　and　received　from　the　inmates　of　each；　a　few
cowrie　shells；　which　are　used　as　the　smallest　coin　in　Unyoro。　These
shells　were　afterwards　divided　among　his　bonosoora　as　their　daily　pay。

My　station　had　not　been　arranged　for　defence；　as　I　considered　that
hostilities　in　this　country　could　not　be　possible。　Although　black　human
nature　is　the　darkest　shade　of　character；　I　never　could　have　believed
that　even　Kabba　Rega　could　have　harboured　treacherous　designs　against
us；　after　the　benefits　that　both　he　and　his　people　had　received　from　me。
The　country　had　been　relieved　from　the　slave…hunters；　and　my　people　were
actually　on　the　road　to　Fatiko　to　liberate　and　restore　to　their　families
about　1；000　women　and　children　of　Unyoro。　I　was　about　to　establish　a
school。　No　thefts　had　taken　place　on　the　part　of　the　troops。　The　rights
of　every　native　had　been　respected。　The　chiefs　had　received　valuable
presents；　and　the　people　had　already　felt　the　advantage　of　legitimate
trade。

At　the　same　time　that　hostility　appeared　impossible；　I　could　not　blind
myself　to　the　fact　of　the　late　demonstration；　it　would　therefore　be
absolutely　necessary　to　construct　a　small　fort；　for　the　security　of　the
ammunition　and　effects；　which　could　no　longer　be　exposed　in　simple　straw
huts；　without　protection。

I　explained