ismailia-第66章

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〃Without　an　irregular　force　it　will　be　impossible　to　hold　the　country；
and　at　the　same　time　to　carry　on　the　work　of　government。　The　force　that
I　originally　proposed；　of　1；650；　is　absolutely　required　to　occupy　a
chain　of　stations　from　Gondokoro。

〃March　30。The　cows　are　dying　in　great　numbers；　and　the　natives　are
bringing　large　quantities　of　potatoes　in　exchange　for　the　flesh；　but
there　is　no　corn　in　the　country。

〃The　days　and　nights　are　now　cloudy　and　showery。

〃Lokara　and　Quonga　came　this　morning；　but　no　messenger　has　yet　arrived
from　Kabba　Rega。

〃I　gave　Lokara　a　blue　shirt；　a　long　red　sash；　and　a　crimson　fez；　to　his
great　delight。　The　chiefs　were　much　struck　with　the　present　intended　for
Kabba　Rega；　this　consisted　of　three　rows　of　roman　pearls　as　large　as
marbles；　with　a　gilt　shield；　and　onyx…pendant　tied　up　with　green　satin
ribbon。

〃March　31。I　sent　all　the　cattle　across　the　river　in　charge　of　Quonga；
two　were　carried　off　by　crocodiles　while　in　the　act　of　swimming。

〃The　great　sheiks　paid　me　a　visit；　together　with　many　of　inferior　rank。
Lokara；　Quonga；　Matonse；　and　Pittia；　were　among　the　principal　chiefs　of
the　country。　As　they　were　sitting　before　me；　Lokara　lighted　a　huge　pipe
and　immediately　commenced　smoking。　This　is　a　great　breach　of　etiquette；
as　smoking　is　strictly　forbidden　in　the　presence　of　Kabba　Rega。

〃My　old　Cairo　dragoman；　Mohammed；　who　was　now　thoroughly　installed　as
one　of　the　expedition；　was　well　up　in　the　customs　of　the　country；　and　he
quietly　resented　the　insult　of　the　pipe。

〃He　gently　approached　with　a　bottle　of　water；　which　he　poured　politely
into　the　bowl；　as　though　he　was　conferring　a　favour；　at　the　same　time；
he　explained　that　in　my　presence　every　one　smoked　water　instead　of
tobacco。　The　hint　was　immediately　taken；　and　the　huge　pipe；　thus
summarily　extinguished；　was　handed　to　a　slave　in　attendance。

〃We　now　entered　upon　geographical　discussions。　All　the　chiefs　declared
that　the　M'wootan　N'zige　extends　beyond　Karagwe；　and　that　it　exceeds　the
Victoria　N'yanza　in　size。　The　native　name；　in　Unyoro；　for　the　Victoria
N'yanza　is　simply　N'yanza；　and　for　the　White　Nile；　Masaba。

〃There　is　a　country　called　Barega　on　the　Albert　N'yanza；　south…west　of
Uganda；　governed　by　a　powerful　king　whose　people　are　armed　with　bows；
and　arrows　that　are　feathered。　I　have　never　yet　seen　feathered　arrows
among　the　White　Nile　tribes。

〃The　great　mountain　Bartooma　is　again　mentioned；　as　on　my　former
journey。　I　imagine　it　must　be　identical　with　the　M'fumbiro　of　Speke。

〃I　shall　send　an　expedition　front　Magungo　to　Ibrahimeyah　by　river　to
prove　the　capabilities　of　the　route。　I　shall　form　a　station　at　Magungo
to　trade　with　Malegga　on　the　opposite　shore。　I　shall　then　thoroughly
explore　the　Albert　N'yanza　in　boats；　and　afterwards　proceed　to　King
M'tese　of　Uganda　。　。　。　。

〃It　rained　last　evening　and　during　the　night。　Seven　cows　died。　I　have
erected　a　comfortable　stable　for　the　horses。

〃April　1。The　people　belonging　to　Suleiman　hesitate　to　accept　the
government　pay；　although　a　day　or　two　ago　they　enlisted。　I　fear　that
these　people　can　never　be　trusted。　I　shall　give　them　a　little　time　to
consider；　after　which；　if　they　refuse　to　serve；　I　shall　turn　them　out　of
the　country。　Every　camp　or　zareeba　is　course　full　of　slaves。

〃There　is　a　curious　custom　throughout　Unyoro：　a　peculiar　caste　are
cattle…keepers。　These　people　only　attend　to　the　herds；　and　the
profession　is　inherited　from　past　generations。　They　are　called　Bohooma；
and　they　are　the　direct　descendants　of　the　Gallas　who　originally
conquered　the　country；　and；　like　the　reigning　family；　they　are　of　an
extremely　light　colour。　If　the　herds　are　carried　off　in　battle；　the
Bohooma；　who　never　carry　arms；　accompany；　them　to　their　new　masters；　and
continue　their　employment。　Nothing　but　death　will　separate　them　from
their　cattle。

〃April　2。The　natives　built　a　zareeba　yesterday　for　the　cattle；　but
they　are　dying　as　rapidly　as　upon　the　north　side　of　the　river。

〃I　tried　to　do　a　little　geography　with　the　sheik；　Pittia。　He　was　the　man
who；　some　years　ago；　first　gave　me　the　information　respecting　the
distance　of　the　Albert　N'yanza　from　M'rooli。　He　would　say　nothing
without　orders　from　the　king；　beyond　telling　me　that　you　might　travel
for　months　upon　the　lake。

〃It　is　very　annoying　in　this　country　that　no　information　can　be
obtained；　neither　can　any　work　be　commenced；　without　the　direct　order　of
the　king。　My　patience　is　sorely　tried。　No　reply　has　as　yet　been
delivered　to　my　message　sent　to　Kabba　Rega；　although　ten　days　have
elapsed。

〃My　desire　is　to　benefit　the　country　by　opening　the　road　for　legitimate
commerce；　but　the　difficulties　are　great；　as　the　king　will　endeavour　to
monopolize　the　market；　and　thus　prevent　free　trade。

〃April　3。I　sent　for　all　the　great　sheiks　to　complain　of　Kabba　Rega's
conduct。　This　young　fellow　was　evidently　aping　the　manners　of　his
father；　Kamrasi；　and　attempting　to　show　his　own　importance　by　keeping　me
waiting。　The　sheiks　explained；　that　before　my　arrival；　Suleiman　had
agreed　to　furnish　soldiers　to　assist　the　forces　of　Kabba　Rega　in　a
united　attack　upon　Rionga；　and　the　army　was　now　only　a　short　distance
from　this　spot；　expecting　the　promised　aid。　My　arrival　had　upset　all
their　plans；　as　I　had　forbidden　all　action　until　I　should　have　had　a
personal　interview　with　Kabba　Rega。

〃The　military　operations　were　in　abeyance　until　a　reply　should　be
received　from　the　king。　The　return　messengers　were　expected　this
evening。

〃The　sheiks　declare　that　the　ruling　class　in　this　country　are　all
exceedingly　light　in　complexion　'because　they　do　no　work；　but　sit　in　the
shade　and　drink　abundance　of　milk。'

〃The　natives　of　Unyoro　are　very　inferior　in　PHYSIQUE　to　the　Fatiko。　This
is　the　result　of　vegetable　food　without　either　cereals　or　flesh。　None　of
the　general　public　possess　cattle；　thus　the　food　of　the　people　from
infancy；　after　their　mothers'　milk　has　ceased；　is　restricted　to
plantains　and　the　watery　sweet　potatoes。　The　want　of　milk　is　very
detrimental　to　the　children。　The　men　generally　exhibit　a　want　of　muscle；
and　many　are　troubled　with　cutaneous　diseases。

〃April　4。The　messengers　are　reported　to　have　arrived　from　Kabba　Rega。
Last　evening；　at　8　P。M。；　we　had　a　very　heavy　storm　of　rain　with　thunder。
Fifteen　cows　died　to…day；　and　I　fear　we　shall　lose　the　greater　portion
of　the　herd。　All　cattle　that　may　be　brought　from　the　countries　of　Bari；
Madi；　and　Langgo；　are　said　to　die　on　arrival　in　Unyoro。

〃April　5。The　great　sheiks；　Rahonka　and　Kittakara；　arrived；　together
with　Lokara　and　Quonga；　and　the　smaller　fry；　Pittia　and　Mallegge。　The
latter　was　my　guide　to　the　Albert　N'yanza　many　years　ago。

〃The　'Forty　Thieves'　and　the　band　received　them　on　arrival。　The　band
was；　of　course；　encored；　all　being　delighted　with　the　big　drum　and　the
cymbals。　The　latter　were　examined　as　great　curiosities。

〃Rahonka　is　Kamrasi's　maternal　uncle；　and　is　great…uncle　to　Kabba　Rega；
and　he　can　give　more　information　than　any　man　concerning　the
neighbouring　countries。

〃In　reply　to　my　inquiries　about　Livingstone；　he　says　that　two　persons
are　living　in　a　large　house　in　Karagwe；　which　they　have　constructed　in　a
different　form　to　those　of　the　natives。　These　people　have　no　military
escort；　but　they　possess　a　large　quantity　of　goods。　This　does　not　sound
like　Livingstone；　unless　he　may　have　joined　some　Arab　merchant。

〃There　are　natives　of　Karagwe　now　visiting　Kabba　Rega　at　Masindi；　thus　I
shall　have　a　good　opportunity　of　making　inquiries。　There　are　likewise
envoys　from　M'tese　in　this　country；　therefore　I　shall　be　able　to　send
him　a　valuable　present；　and　beg　him　to　search　for　Livingstone　in　all
directions。

〃April　6。Kabba　Rega's　messengers　presented　themselves；　with　an
offering　of　two　cows；　a　parcel　of　salt；　and　some　plantains。

〃One　of　these　cows　is　a　splendid　animal　from　Umiro。　She　is　the　size　of　a
fair　Durhambright　red　colourwith　immensely　long　and　massive　horns。

〃Had　I　not　had　former　experience　in　this　country；　and　provided　myself
with　a　herd　of　cattle；　eve　should　have　been　half…starved；　as　there　is
nothing　to　be　procured　but　beans；　sweet　potatoes；　and　plantains。

〃April　7。We　all　crossed　the　river　in　canoes。　A　heavy　shower　fell　this
morning。　My　improvident　men　have　torn　all　their　waterproof　cloaks　and
blankets　just　as　we　have　arrived　in　a　country　where　they　will　be　most
required。

〃April　8。It　now　rains　daily；　more　or　less。　The　order　was　given　by
Kabba　Rega　that　we　were　to　be　supplied　with　carriers　for　the　journey　to
Masindi；　which　is　to　be　under　the　charge　of　Rahonka。　Suleiman　and
Eddrees　have　arranged　with　their　men；　all　of　whom　now　present　in　the
camp　have　agreed　to　accept　the　government　rate　of　pay；　and　to　enlist　for
twelve　months。　I　accordingly　issued　serkis；　or　certificates；　for　each
man；　with　his　name；　date　of　engagement；　and　rate　of　wages。

〃This　is　very　satisfactory；　as　I　shall　now　have　a　station　in　my　rear　on
the　river；　with　the　command　of　boats；　while　I　march　up　the　country　to
Masindi。　The　irregulars　in　this　station；　which　is　in　the　district　of
Foweera；　number　sixty…five　men。　If　they　remain　faithful；　they　will　form
a　nucleus　for　the　irregulars　who　will　most　probably　follow　their
example。　I　understand　that　a　small　party　of　seventeen　men　are　now
staying　with　Kabba　Rega。　These　people　will　join　their　comrades　under
Suleiman；　and　raise　the　strength　of　the　Foweera　station　to　eighty…two
men。　I　shall　thus　be　able　to　keep　up　a　communication　with　my　detachment
at　Fatiko。

〃April　9。At　the　expiration　of　Agad's　contract　there　were　188
elephants'　tusks　in　the　zareeba　of　Suleiman。　These　will　remain　in　his
care。

〃The　natives　collected　were　insufficient　to　convey　all　the　loads。　I
therefore　sent　off　a　division；　escorted　by　Morgian　Agha　with　ten　men；　to
await　my　arrival　at　the　village　of　Deang。　The　sheik；　Rahonka；　killed　a
man　who　attempted　to　evade　the　order　to　carry　baggage。

〃April　10。Rain　fell　throughout　the　night；　which　makes　everybody
miserable。　During　the　middle　watch；　having　been　awakened　by　the　heavy
shower；　I　heard　the　sentry　outside　my　tent　muttering　a　kind　of　low
chant：'This　is　the　country　for　rain　and　potatoes；　this　is　the　place
for　potatoes　and　rain。　Potatoes　and　rain；　potatoes　and　rain；　rain　and
potatoes；　rain　and　potatoes。'

〃Neither　the　rain　nor　the　potatoes　were　esteemed　by　the　troops。　The
roots　were　almost　as　watery　as　the　rain；　and　their　sweetness　was
excessive。　A　very　uncomfortable　result　from　this　vapid　food　was　extreme
flatulence。　The　waist…belts　of　the　boys　were　obliged　to　be　let　out　by
several　holes　at　the　buckles。　As　my　men　justly　declared；　'They　were
uncomfortably　full　after　a　meal；　but　half…an…hour's　march　made　them　feel
as　though　they　had　fasted　for　a　day。'

〃During　the　afternoon　I　was　sitting　beneath　a　shady　tree；　with　my　wife
and　Lieutenant　Baker；　when　a　naked　native　rushed　wildly　past　the
sentries；　and；　before　he　could　be　restrained　threw　himself　on　the　ground
and　embraced　my　feet；　at　the　same　time　begging　for　mercy　by　the　Arabic
ejaculation；　'Aman！　aman！'

〃He　was　immediately　seized。　On　examination　through　an　interpreter；　it
appeared　that　he　was　a　native　of　Koitch；　near　Fatiko；　and　that　he　had
attached　hims