ismailia-第74章

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the　Khedive。〃

〃There　is　no　time　to　lose；　you　PROMISED　to　fight　Rionga；　my　troops　are
all　ready；　your　men　have　nothing　to　do。　Keep　a　few　here；　and　send　the
main　force　with　my　army　to　attack　him　at　once；　before　he　has　time　to
escape　to　the　Langgos。〃

I　could　almost　have　imagined　that　I　had　been　speaking　with　Kamrasi；　so
thoroughly　did　his　son　resemble　him　in　his　diplomacy。

I　answered　him　with　caution；　declaring　that　I　could　not　allow　any
reckless　acts　that　would　plunge　the　country　in　confusion。　He　（Kabba
Rega）　had　nothing　to　fear；　but　time　was　required　to　ripen　my　plans。　I
had　promised　that　I　would　dismiss　Suleiman　and　his　people　from　Unyoro：
at　the　same　time　I　should　liberate　all　the　slaves　that　had　been　stolen
by　Abou　Saood's　companies；　and　restore　them　to　their　homes。　This　was　my
first　duty；　that　would　assure　the　natives　of　my　sincerity；　and　establish
general　confidence　in　the　government。

Fatiko　was　160　miles　distant。　　I　should　therefore　send　Suleiman　and　his
people　under　an　escort　direct　to　Major　Abdullah；　the　commandant；　with
orders　to　recover　from　Abou　Saood　all　the　slaves　that　had　been　captured
from　Unyoro。

Major　Abdullah　would　then　break　up　his　camp　at　Fatiko；　and　march　in
charge　of　the　slaves；　with　his　detachment　of　100　men；　together　with　all
effects；　and　join　me　at　Unyoro。　He　would；　upon　arrival　at　the　Victoria
Nile；　occupy　the　now　deserted　station　of　Suleiman　at　Foweera；　thus　he
would　be　within　a　march　of　Rionga。

The　old　enemy　of　the　family　（Rionga）　would　then　have　an　opportunity；
either　of　declaring　his　allegiance　and　remaining　at　peace；　or；　should　he
become　turbulent；　a　government　force　would　be　at　hand　to　control　him。

I　therefore　arranged　that　Kabba　Rega　should　supply　me　with　300　carriers；
who　would　accompany　my　escort　to　Fatiko　and　transport　all　stores；
ammunition；　&c。；　&c。；　so　as　to　concentrate　my　force　in　Unyoro。

This　plan　seemed　to　delight　Kabba　Rega；　he　declared　that　the　first　step
necessary　was　the　banishment　of　Suleiman　and　his　people　from　the
country。　The　next　move　would　be　the　attack　upon　Rionga。　I　explained　to
him　that　it　would　be　quite　useless　for　any　enemy　to　retreat　for　security
to　the　river　islands；　as　the　rockets　would　search　them　out　in　the　middle
of　the　dense　canes；　and　they　would　be　only　too　glad　to　escape；　but　at
the　same　time；　I　should　hope　that　Rionga　would　come　to　terms　and　avoid
the　necessity　of　a　resort　to　force。

That　evening；　after　we　had　dined；　and　I　was　smoking　my　customary
chibouque；　Kabba　Rega　astonished　me　by　an　impromptu　visit；　he　was　as
usual　attended　by　some　of　his　followers　armed　with　muskets。　He　sat　down
at　the　table；　and　having　felt　the　table…cloth；　he　wished　to　know　〃why
the　table　was　covered；〃　he　then　examined　the　tumblers；　and　everything
that　was　present；　all　of　which　he　seemed　to　admire。　I　offered　him　some
gin　and　water。　This　he　smelt　but　would　not　taste；　as　he　suspected
poison；　accordingly　he　poured　it　into　wine　glasses；　and　divided　it　among
three　of　his　people；　who　were　obliged　to　drink　it；　while　their　master
watched　them　attentively；　in　expectation　of　some　ill　effects。　His　people
rather　approved　of　the　poison；　and　asked　for　more。　Kabba　Rega　seemed　to
think　that　a　larger　dose　was　necessary；　but　as　we　could　not　afford　to
waste　Geneva　by　experiments　upon　numerous　attendants；　all　of　whom　were
to　be　poisoned　with　our　good　liquor　for　the　amusement　of　the　king；　I
sent　the　bottle　away　and　turned　the　subject。

Kabba　Rega　now　minutely　examined　the　lamps　and　glass　shades。　The
principle　was　explained　to　him；　and　the　candle　was　withdrawn　from　the
tube　and　spring；　and　again　replaced。　He　expressed　a　wish　to　have　one；
saying　that　he　intended　to　have　everything　precisely　as　I　had。

I　assured　him　that　this　was　my　object；　I　wished　to　create　new　wants
among　his　people　and　himself；　which　would　tend　to　develop　commerce。　He
might　have　everything　in　European　style；　and　live　in　a　civilized　manner；
now　that　the　route　was　open　from　the　north。　Ivory　was　abundant　in　this
country；　and　this　would　provide　him　with　the　means　of　purchasing　all
that　he　could　desire。

I　had　ordered　Monsoor　to　arrange　a　stake　in　the　ground；　with　a　large
nail　driven　in　the　top　at　right　angles　to　form　a　rocket…stand。　I　now
asked　Kabba　Rega　if　he　would　like　to　see　a　rocket　fired。

The　idea　delighted　him；　and　a　few　rockets　having　been　brought；　together
with　port…fires　and　blue　lights；　we　exhibited　the　fireworks。　There　was
no　wind；　thus　the　rockets　did　no　damage；　as　they　were　inclined　towards
the　north；　in　which　direction　there　were　no　buildings。

Kabba　Rega　himself　ignited　a　rocket　with　a　port…fire；　and　although
rather　nervous　at　the　great　rush　of　fire；　he　seemed　interested　at　the
fact　that　a　town　composed　of　straw　huts　could　be　destroyed　from　a
distance　。　。　。　。

On　the　following　morning；　Umbogo；　the　dragoman；　told　me　that　the　natives
had　been　very　much　frightened　at　the　rockets；　as　they　said；　〃the　Pacha
was　going　to　set　the　sky　on　fire。〃

The　station　was　progressing　rapidly。　The　soil　was　of　such　extraordinary
richness　that　the　seeds　sprang　up　like　magic。　On　the　third　day　after
sowing；　the　cucumbers；　melons；　pumpkins；　and　cotton　seeds；　showed
themselves　above　ground。

I　had　made　a　broad　walk　of　red　gravel　from　Kabba　Rega's　new　divan；　to
the　government　house。　The　roads　and　approaches　were　finished；　and　all
neatly　laid　with　fresh　gravel　stamped　firmly　down。　The　borders　of　all
paths　and　roads　were　sown　with　the　best　quality　of　Egyptian　cotton；
known　in　Egypt　as　galleen。　My　large　tent　was　pitched　beneath　an　immense
banian…tree；　close　to　which　was　the　new　government　house。　This
grand…sounding　name　was　given　to　a　very　solid　construction　of　a　most
simple　character。　The　divan　was　a　building　containing　only　one　room
twenty…eight　feet　long　by　fourteen　wide；　and　about　twenty　feet　high。　It
was　carefully　thatched　with　overhanging　eaves；　which　formed　a　narrow
verandah；　and　it　was　entered　by　a　commodious　porch；　this　was　arched　in
the　native　fashion；　and　was　so　large　that　it　formed　a　lobby；　in　which　we
sometimes　dined。　The　inside　walls　of　the　divan　were　neatly　made　with
canes　closely　lashed　together。

There　was　a　back　door　to　this　public　room　which　communicated　with　a
separate　house　by　a　covered　way。

This　was　our　private　residence；　which　also　consisted　of　only　one　room；
but　I　had　arranged　it　with　extreme　neatness；　in　order　to　excite　the
admiration　of　Kabba　Rega　and　his　chiefs；　who　would；　I　hoped；　imitate　the
manners　and　customs　of　civilized　life；　and　thus　improve　trade。

The　room　was　twenty…four　feet　long　by　thirteen　wide。　The　walls　were　as
usual　made　of　canes；　but　these　were　carefully　hung　with　scarlet
blankets；　sewn　together　and　stretched　to　the　ground；　so　as　to　form　an
even　surface。　The　floor　was　covered　with　mats。　Upon　the　walls　opposite
to　each　other；　so　as　to　throw　endless　reflection；　were　two　large　oval
mirrors　（girandoles）　in　gilt　metal　frames。　A　photograph　of　her　Majesty
the　Queen　stood　on　the　toilet　table。

At　the　extreme　end　of　the　room　was　a　very　good　coloured　print；　nearly
life　size；　of　her　Royal　Highness　the　Princess　of　Wales。　The　scarlet
walls　were　hung　with　large　coloured　prints；　life　size；　of　very　beautiful
women；　with　very　gorgeous　dresses；　all　the　jewelry　being　imitated　by
pieces　of　coloured　tinsel。　A　number　of　sporting　prints；　very　large；　and
also　coloured；　were　arranged　in　convenient　places　on　the　walls。　There
were　fox…hunting　scenes；　and　German　stag…hunts；　together　with　a　few
quiet　landscapes；　that　always　recalled　the　dear　old　country　now　so　far
away。

The　furniture　was　simple　enough：　two　angarebs；　or　Arab　stretchers；
which；　during　the　day；　were　covered　with　Persian　carpets　and　served　as
sofas；　while　at　night　they　were　arranged　as　beds。　The　tables　were　made
of　square　metal　boxes　piled　one　upon　the　other　and　covered　with　bright
blue　cloths。　These　were　arranged　with　all　kinds　of　odd　trinkets　of　gaudy
appearance；　but　of　little　value；　which　were　intended　to　be　asked　for；
and　given　away。　Two　native　stools　curiously　cut　out　of　a　solid　block
formed　our　chairs。　The　guns　and　rifles　stood　in　a　row　against　a　rack
covered　with　red　Turkey　cloth；　and　a　large　Geneva　musical　box　lay　upon　a
table　beneath　the　Princess　of　Wales。

Altogether　the　room　was　exceedingly　pretty。　It　would　have　been　vulgar　if
in　England；　but　it　was　beautifully　clean；　and　it　shortly　became　the
wonder　of　Central　Africa。

I　had　brought　the　large　gilt　mirrors　from　England　specially　for　M'tese；
the　king　of　Uganda；　and　for　Kamrasi。　I　knew　that　if　they　were　arranged
in　my　own　house；　the　news　would　be　carried　to　M'tese　immediately；　and
the　fact　of　so　great　a　curiosity　and　treasure　being　on　the　road　to　him
would　at　once　open　a　communication。

On　8th　May；　the　prisoners　of　Suleiman's　company；　numbering　twenty…five
persons；　came　to　the　divan；　headed　by　Ali　Genninar；　and　supplicated
forgiveness。　They　all　declared　their　desire　to　be　registered　on　the
government　books　as　irregular　troops。

I　had　already　witnessed　an　example　of　their　duplicity；　therefore　I　had
no　confidence　in　their　professions；　but　at　the　same　time　I　did　not　know
what　to　do　with　them。　The　fact　of　their　being　in　custody　required　twenty
soldiers　to　relieve　the　necessary　guards。　I　therefore　determined　to　be
magnanimous；　as　I　was　only　too　happy　to　be　rid　of　such　bad　bargains
should　they　run　away。　The　only　man　that　I　trusted　was　Ali　Genninar；　he
was　a　clever　and　plucky　fellow　that　I　had　known　in　my　former　African
journey；　at　which　time　he　belonged　to　the　company　of　Ibrahim。

After　a　good　lecture　I　forgave　them；　and　they　all　received　their　serkis
（certificates）　as　members　of　the　irregular　corps。　Ali　Genninar　was　to
have　the　rank　of　lieutenant。

I　told　them　that　it　was　my　intention　to　hoist　the　Ottoman　flag；　and　to
officially　annex　the　country　in　the　presence　of　Kabba　Rega　and　his
people；　therefore　I　did　not　wish　any　subjects　of　the　Khedive　to　be　in
disgrace　upon　such　an　occasion；　excepting　only　Suleiman；　who　would　be
sent　to　Cairo　on　the　first　opportunity；　to　answer　for　the　murder　of　the
prisoner　at　Foweera。　I　therefore　divided　a　few　pounds　of　beads　among
them　for　the　purchase　of　new　bark…cloths；　as　I　could　not　allow　them　to
appear　in　their　dirty　clothes　on　the　day　of　the　ceremony。

They　all　went　away　rejoicing；　and　swearing　fidelity；　at　the　same　time
confessing　their　sins；　and　vowing　that　I　had　treated　them　better　than
they　had　deserved。

As　usual；　our　proceedings　were　narrowly　watched　by　the　guards　stationed
at　Kabba　Rega's　new　divan；　within　fifty　yards　of　my　house。　These　spies
immediately　ran　off　to　their　master　with　the　report　that　I　had　forgiven
the　slave…hunters　who　were　lately　prisoners；　and　that　I　had　actually
made　them　presents　of　beads。　（At　that　time　I　had　not　the　slightest
idea　that　the　liberation　of　the　prisoners　would　excite　suspicion　in　the
minds　of　Kabba　Rega　and　his　people；　but　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　this
act　of　clemency　on　my　part　destroyed　the　confidence　which　had　previously
existed。）

This　report　was　quickly　confirmed；　as　the　new　and　dirty　members　of　the
irregular　corps；　who　were　now　at　liberty；　presented　themselves　in　the
town　with　their　hands　full　of　beads　to　purchase　the　necessary
bark…cloths。　These　cloths