ismailia-第80章

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ammunition　and　effects；　which　could　no　longer　be　exposed　in　simple　straw
huts；　without　protection。

I　explained　this　necessity　to　my　officers　and　men；　all　of　whom　were
keenly　alive　to　the　evil　spirit　of　Kabba　Rega；　from　whom　they　expected
future　mischief。

This　miserable　young　fellow　was　nearly　always　drunk；　his　time　was　passed
in　sucking　plantain　cider　through　a　reed；　until　he　became　thoroughly
intoxicated。　We　were；　therefore；　subject　to　any　sudden　order　that　he
might　give　in　a　fit　of　drunkenness。

His　people　obeyed　him　implicitly；　with　that　fanatical　belief　that　is
held　in　Unyoro　respecting　the　person　who　occupies　the　magic　throne
（Bamba）。

There　could　be　no　doubt　that　he　was　offended　and　insulted：　therefore；
according　to　the　principle　in　vino　veritas；　he　might　pluck　up　courage　to
surprise　us　when　least　expected。

I　determined　to　build　a　fort　immediately。

I　drew　a　plan　of　a　circular　stockade；　surrounded　by　a　ditch　and　earthen
parapet。　The　ditch　ten　feet　wide　by　seven　deep。　The　diameter　from　scarp
to　scarp；　sixty　feet；　diameter　of　inner　circular　court；　thirty…six　feet。

With　the　assistance　of　Lieutenant　Baker　I　drew　the　plan　on　the　ground；
and　my　troops　set　to　work　with　that　vigour　which　always　distinguished
them。

There　were　numerous　large　trees　of　the　fig　tribe　in　the　immediate
neighbourhood。　This　wood　was　exactly　adapted　for　the　purpose；　as　it　was
easy　to　cut；　and　at　the　same　time　it　was　undying　when　once　planted　in
the　ground。　Any　log　of　the　bark…cloth　tree　will　take　root　if　watered。

The　axes　with　which　the　men　were　provided　now　came　into　play；　and　the
clicking　of　so　many　tools　at　work　at　once　surprised　the　natives。
Rahonka；　Kittakara；　and　other　chiefs　came　to　inquire　concerning　our
intention。

I　explained　the　necessity　of　storing　the　gunpowder　in　a　fireproof
building。　Only　a　few　days　ago　several　native　huts　had　been　burnt；　such
an　accident　might　endanger　our　station；　therefore　I　should　construct　an
earthen　roof　over　a　building　of　strong　palisades。　I　explained　that
should　the　whole　of　the　ammunition　explode；　it　might　ignite　and　destroy
Masindi。

My　men　thoroughly　understood　their　work。　Immense　logs；　nine　feet　in
length；　and　many　upwards　of　two　feet　in　diameter；　were　planted；　close
together；　in　holes　two　feet　deep。　Any　interstices　were　filled　up　with
smaller　posts　sunk　firmly　in　the　ground。　The　entrance　to　the　little　fort
was　a　projecting　passage；　about　twelve　feet　long；　and　only　three　feet
wide；　formed　of　two　rows　of　enormous　palisades；　sunk　two　feet　six　inches
in　the　earth；　which　was　pounded　closely　down　with　heavy　rammers。　This
passage　was　an　important　feature　in　the　power　of　defence；　as　it　added　to
the　flanking　fire。　A　reference　to　the　plan　will　show　that　the
arrangement　of　this　small　fort　gave　us　three　fireproof　rooms　for　the
protection　of　stores　and　ammunition；　and　for　the　accommodation　of　the
necessary　guard。　Each　of　these　rooms　was　formed　of　the　strongest
palisades；　upon　which　I　arranged　a　flat　roof　of　thick　posts；　laid
parallel；　which　were　covered　with　tempered　earth　and　chopped　straw　for
the　thickness　of　a　foot。

The　earth　from　the　ditch　would　lie　against　the　outside　face　of　the
stockade；　at　an　angle　of　about　40　degrees　from　the　edge　of　the　ditch　to
within　eighteen　inches　of　the　projecting　roof：　thus　the　defenders　could
fire　from　the　strong　rooms　through　the　interstices　of　the　upright
timbers。

We　commenced　this　fort　on　the　morning　of　2nd　June；　and　every　palisade
was　in　its　place　and　firmly　rammed　down　by　the　evening　of　the　5th；　thus；
in　four　days'　hard　work　we　had　an　impregnable　protection　in　a　position
nearly　half…way　between　the　entrance　of　the　main　approach　and　the
government　divan。

The　digging　of　the　ditch　was　commenced；　but　this　was　a　longer　operation；
as　we　were　provided　with　the　light　Unyoro　hoes；　which　were　not
sufficiently　powerful　to　cut　through　the　hard　gravel　subsoil。

The　interpreter；　Umbogo；　returned　on　3rd　June。　He　could　not　in　the　least
explain　the　hostile　demonstration　of　31st　May。　This　added　to　my
suspicion；　as　Umbogo　must　have　known　more　than　he　chose　to　tell。

On　the　4th　June　envoys　arrived　direct　from　M'tese；　the　king　of　Uganda；
with　a　letter　of　welcome；　written　in　Arabic；　addressed　to　myself。

The　principal　messenger　was　one　of　M'tese's　headmen；　named　Waysooa。　The
commander…in…chief；　Congow；　had　also　sent　a　representative；　named
Bonneggesah；　these　people　were　accompanied　by　an　interpreter　named
Bokamba。

The　envoys　were　remarkably　well…dressed；　in　Indian　clothes；　and　they
appeared　quite　civilized；　as　though　native　merchants　of　Bombay。

They　now　delivered　their　credentials　from　King　M'tese：　these　were
objects　that　had　been　given　to　him　many　years　ago　by　Speke　and　Grant。　A
printed　book　（Kaffre　laws）；　several　water…colour　drawings；　including　a
picture　of　a　guinea…fowl　and　a　yellow…breasted　pigeon；　also　a　little
folding…book　with　sketches　of　British　soldiers　of　various　regiments。
These　I　carefully　examined　and　returned　to　the　envoys；　who　wrapped　them
neatly　in　a　piece　of　calico　as　great　treasures。　（I　must　acknowledge
the　important　assistance　rendered　by　the　King　M'tese；　which　was　the
result　of　the　good　reputation　left　by　my　precursors；　Speke　and　Grant。）

The　general；　Congow；　had　sent　a　tusk　to　SELL！　I　declined　the　offer；　but
I　sent　him　a　scarlet　blanket　as　a　present。　I　also　packed　up　an
assortment　of　handsome　articles　for　M'tese；　including　many　yards　of
orange…coloured　gold　brocade；　sufficient　for　a　large　flowing　robe。

I　gave　presents　to　the　envoys；　and　they　appeared　delighted；　bowing
frequently　to　the　ground　while　upon　their　knees；　with　their　hands
clasped　together；　and　repeating　the　word；　〃N'yanzig；〃　〃N'yanzig；〃
〃N'yanzig。〃

In　reply　to　my　inquiries；　nothing　had　been　heard　of　Livingstone。　I　sent
M'tese　a　letter　in　Arabic；　begging　him　to　use　every　exertion　in　a　search
for　the　great　traveller；　and　to　forward　him　to　me；　should　he　be　so
fortunate　as　to　discover　him。　At　the　same　time　I　wrote　two　letters；
which　I　addressed　to　Livingstone；　in　these　I　gave　him　the　necessary
information。　I　consigned　them　to　the　care　of　M'tese；　to　be　forwarded　to
any　travellers　who　might　be　heard　of；　far　or　near。

In　my　letter　to　M'tese；　I　complimented　him　upon　the　general　improvement
of　his　country；　and　upon　his　conversion　from　heathenism　to　a　belief　in
the　Deity。　I　explained；　that　owing　to　his　kindness　to　Speke　and　Grant；
his　name　had　become　known　throughout　the　world；　and　I　begged　him　to　show
the　same　attention　to　Livingstone。

I　described　the　object　of　the　expedition；　in　opening　up　a　trade　from　the
north　that　would　bring　merchandise　of　every　description　to　his　kingdom；
but　I　advised　him　to　send　his　own　carriers；　as　I　felt　sure　that　Kabba
Rega　was　already　jealous；　and　would　endeavour　to　prevent　the　opening　of
the　commercial　road　to　M'tese；　as　he　would　himself　wish　to　monopolize
the　trade。

This　was　a　little　stroke　of　diplomacy　that　I　felt　sure　would　open　a
direct　communication　without　delay；　as　M'tese　looked　down　with　contempt
upon　Kabba　Rega；　and　would　at　once　feel　insulted　at　opposition　from　such
a　quarter。　（The　good　effect　of　this　policy　will　be　seen　towards　the
close　of　the　expedition。）

Should　I　have　any　open　rupture　with　Kabba　Rega；　M'tese　would　at　once
attribute　the　cause　to　the　obstructive　and　selfish　character　of　the
ruler　in　Unyoro。

I　explained　to　the　envoys　all　that　I　had　written　to　M'tese；　and　having
exhibited　the　varieties　of　merchandise　that　belonged　to　the　expedition；
I　took　them　into　the　wonderful　private　house；　where　they　were　introduced
to　the　Queen；　and　the　Princess　of　Wales；　and　the　gaudy　ladies；　together
with　the　fox…hunters　and　hounds；　the　large　mirrors；　the　wheel　of　life；
&c。；　all　of　which　were　duly　explained　to　them。　A　good　shock　with　the
magnetic　battery　wound　up　the　entertainment；　and　provided　them　with　much
material　for　a　report　to　their　royal　master　upon　their　return　to　Uganda。

The　geographical　information　afforded　by　these　people　I　shall　extract
verbatim　from　my　journal；　in　which　it　was　written　at　that　particular
time：　thus；　geographers　will　hear　all　that　I　heard；　and　they　may　form
various　opinions；　which　will　perhaps　add　still　further　to　the　interest
pertaining　to　the　mysteries　of　Central　Africa。

〃The　native　name　for　the　Victoria　N'yanza　is　Nerraa　Bali：　There　are　two
lakes　adjoining　each　other；　one　is　Nerraa　Bali；　the　other　Sessi；　both　of
which　are　very　large；　and　they　are　separated　by　a　neck　of　land　about　a
day's　march　across。

〃On　the　Sessi　Lake　the　natives　live　on　floating　islands；　and　subsist　by
fishing；　exchanging　their　fish　for　flour；　&c。；　upon　the　main　land。

〃There　is　a　narrow　water…communication　through　the　neck　of　land　or
isthmus；　which　can　be　passed　through　by　a　canoe　in　one　day。〃

On　the　5th　June　the　envoys　returned　towards　Uganda；　having　been　highly
gratified　with　their　visit。　They　had　appeared　much　concerned　at　hearing
of　poor　Speke's　death；　and　continued　to　exclaim　for　some　minutes；　〃Wah！
Wah！　Speekee！　Speekee！　Wah！　Speekee！〃



CHAPTER　XXI。

TREACHERY。

For　some　days　past；　Kabba　Rega　had　frequently　sent　his　interpreters　with
messages；　that　he　wished　to　sell　the　ivory　which　he　had　collected　for
the　government。　We　had　noticed　on　several　occasions　many　people　laden
with　large　elephants'　tusks；　who　invariably　marched　towards　the　same
direction。　The　dragoman；　Kadji…Barri；　daily　brought　ivory　for　sale　for
the　account　of　his　master；　and　exchanged　tusks　for　all　kinds　of　trifles；
such　as　porcelain　cups　and　saucers；　small　musical　boxes；　&c。；　&c。

On　6th　June；　twenty…one　tusks　were　purchased　from　the　messengers　of
Kabba　Rega；　and　I　thought　that　the　young　king　was　getting　tired　of　his
sulky　fit；　and　that　we　should　be　once　more　friends。

The　supply　of　food　was　always　a　trouble。　Every　day　was　passed　in
repeated　applications　to　the　authorities　for　supplies；　which　were　at
length　grudgingly　bestowed。

On　7th　June；　there　was　nothing　for　the　troops　to　eat。　Although　on　31st
May　we　had　received　twenty　loads　of　corn；　these　were　simply　the　long
narrow　packages　which　are　so　neatly　made　of　the　plantain　bark　throughout
Unyoro；　but　which　contain　very　little。

Several　times　during　the　day　Lieutenant…Colonel　Abd…el…Kader；　together
with　Monsoor；　had　been　sent　to　the　divan　of　Kabba　Rega；　to　impress　upon
his　chiefs　the　necessity　of　a　supply　of　food。　They　explained　my　great
annoyance；　as　this　was　precisely　the　result　that　I　had　foretold　when
Kabba　Rega　had　neglected　to　clear　the　ground　for　cultivation。

At　about　3　P。M。；　the　tall　chief　Matonse　appeared；　together　with　Umbogo；
and　several　natives；　who　carried　five　large　jars　of　plantain　cider。
These　were　sent　to　me　from　Kabba　Rega；　with　a　polite　but　lying　message；
that　〃he　much　regretted　the　scarcity　of　corn；　there　was　positively　none
in　Masindi；　but　a　large　quantity　would　arrive　to…morrow　from　Agguse。〃　In
the　mean　time　he　begged　I　would　accept　for　the　troops　a　present　of　five
jars　of　cider。

I　declined　to　accept　the　present；　as　I　did　not　require　drink；　but　solid
food　for　the　troops。　The　jars　were　therefore　returned。

About　sunset　Matonse　again　appeared；　accompanied　by　Umbogo　and　natives
with　SEVEN　jars　of　cider；　and　two　large　packages　of　flour；　which