ismailia-第76章

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when　expressing　astonishment。

The　large　looking…glasses　were　miracles。　Kabba　Rega　discovered　a　great
number　of　Kabba　Regas　in　the　endless　reflections　of　the　two　opposite
mirrors。　This　was　a　great　wonder　that　attracted　particular　attention。

It　was　then　discovered　that　every　person　was　multiplied　in　a　similar
manner！　This　was　of　course　〃cojoor〃　（magic）。　It　was　difficult　to　draw
them　away　from　the　looking　glasses；　but　at　length　the　pictures　were
examined。　The　Queen　was　exhibited　and　explained；　and　I　described　her
subjects　to　be　as　numerous　as　the　white　ants　in　Unyoro。　The　Princess　of
Wales　was　a　three…quarter　face；　and　they　immediately　asked　〃why　she　had
only　one　ear？〃　The　same　question　of　unity　was　asked　respecting　the　leg
of　a　man　in　a　red　coat　on　a　white　horse。

Every　lady's　portrait　was　minutely　examined；　but　to　our　great
satisfaction；　that　of　the　Princess　was　declared　by　general　consent　to　be
the　most　lovely。

I　was　much　struck　with　this　exhibition　of　good　taste；　as　the　other
portraits　were　pretty　faces；　but　the　hair　and　dresses　were　gaudily
ornamented；　whereas　that　of　the　Princess　of　Wales　was　exceedingly
simple；　the　dress　being　an　evening　gown　of　white　satin。

I　should　have　suspected　that　natives　would　have　preferred　the　gaudy
attire；　without　bestowing　sufficient　admiration　on　the　features。

Kabba　Rega　now　asked　〃why　the　women　in　the　various　portraits　all　looked
at　him？〃　wherever　he　moved；　their　eyes　followed　him。

His　chiefs　now　discovered　that　the　faces　in　the　pictures　were　also
looking　at　them；　and　the　eyes　followed　them　whether　they　moved　to　the
right　or　left！　This　was　cojoor；　or　magic；　which　at　first　made　them　feel
uncomfortable。

One　of　my　wife's　female　servants；　Wat…el…Kerreem；　would　never　remain　by
herself　in　this　room；　for　fear　of　〃the　eyes　that　stared　at　her。〃

Everything　that　we　possessed　was　now　minutely　scrutinized。　The　guns　and
rifles　of　various　breechloading　mechanism　were　all　displayed　and
admired。　Kabba　Rega　thoughtfully　asked　〃which　of　them　I　had　intended　for
him？〃　His　uncle；　Rahonka；　exclaimed〃You　have　done　wisely　in　bringing
all　those　guns　as　presents　for　Kabba　Rega。〃　My　visitors　were　quite
charmed。　The　musical　box　played　various　delightful　airs；　and　it　was
remarked　that　it　would　be　more　convenient　than　an　instrument　which
required　the　study　of　learning；　as　〃you　might　set　this　going　at　night　to
play　you　to　sleep；　when　you　were　too　drunk　to　play　an　instrument
yourself；　even　if　you　knew　how　to　do　it。〃

This　was　my　young　friend　Kabba　Rega's　idea　of　happinessto　go　to　sleep
drunk；　assisted　by　the　strains　of　self…playing　melody。

Of　course；　the　large　musical　box　was　asked　for；　and；　of　course；　I
promised　to　give　it　as　a　present　from　the　Khedive　of　Egypt；　if　I　found
that　Kabba　Rega　conducted　himself　properly。

My　wife's　trinkets；　&c。；　were　now　begged　for；　but　it　was　explained　that
such　things　were　private　property　belonging　to　the　Sit　（lady）。　〃The　Sit！
the　Sit！　the　Sit！〃　the　young　cub　peevishly　exclaimed；　〃everything　that
is　worth　having　seems　to　belong　to　THE　SIT！〃

A　small　and　beautifully…made　revolver；　with　seven　chambers；　now
attracted　his　attention。　〃Does　this　also　belong　to　the　Sit？〃　inquired
Kabba　Rega。　〃Yes；　that　is　the　Sit's　own　little　revolver；〃　was　the　reply；
at　which　the　young　king　burst　out　laughing；　saying；　〃Do　women　also　carry
arms　in　your　country？　I　see　everything　belongs　to　the　Sit！〃

My　wife　now　gave　him　some　of　the　finest　Venetian　beads；　of　which　we　only
had　a　few　dozen。　These　were　much　prized。　He　was　then　presented　with　a
handsome　gilt　bracelet；　set　with　four　large　French　emeralds。　This　was　a
treasure　such　as　he　had　never　seen。　He　also　received　a　few　strings　of
fine　imitation　pearls。

After　much　delay　and　vexatious　demands　for　everything　that　he　saw；　we　at
length　got　rid　of　our　visitor。

I　had　explained　to　Kabba　Rega　the　intended　ceremony　of　hoisting　the　flag
in　the　name　of　the　Khedive；　and　that　the　country　would　be　in　future
under　the　protection　of　Egypt；　but　that　he　should　remain　as　the
representative　of　the　government。　He　seemed　highly　pleased　at　the　idea
of　protection　and　presents；　and　expressed　himself　as　very　anxious　to
witness　the　ceremony。　。　。　。　。　。　。　On　the　14th　May；　1872；　I　took　formal
possession　of　Unyoro　in　the　name　of　the　Khedive　of　Egypt。

I　recalled　to　the　recollection　of　Kabba　Rega　and　his　chiefs　the　day
when；　many　years　ago；　I　had　hoisted　the　British　flag；　and　thus　I　had
turned　back　the　invading　force　of　Wat…el…Mek；　and　saved　Unyoro。　I　now
declared　that　the　country　and　its　inhabitants　would　be　protected　by　the
Ottoman　flag　in　the　same　manner　that　it　had　been　shielded　by　the　Union
Jack　of　England。

There　was　a　tall　flag…staff　fixed　at　the　east　end　of　the　government
house。

The　bugle　sounded　the　〃taboor；〃　the　troops　fell　in；　the　irregulars　（late
slave…hunters）　formed　in　line　with　that　charming　irregularity　which　is
generally　met　with　in　such　rude　levies。

Kabba　Rega　had　received　due　notice；　and　he　quickly　appeared；　attended　by
about　a　thousand　people。

The　band　played；　Kabba　Rega's　drums　and　horns　sounded；　and　the　troops
formed　a　hollow　square　to　listen　to　a　short　address。

Kabba　Rega　was　invited　within　the　square；　and　the　men　faced　about　with
fixed　bayonets；　as　though　prepared　to　receive　cavalry。　It　was　now
explained　to　the　young　king　that　this　formation　defended　all　sides　from
attack　at　the　same　time。　He　seemed　more　interested　in　getting　out　again；
than　in　the　explanation　of　military　tactics。　He　evidently　had　suspicions
that　he　was　fairly　entrapped　when　he　found　himself　in　the　middle　of　the
square。

The　flag　was　now　hoisted　with　due　formality；　the　usual　military　salutes
took　place；　volleys　were　fired；　and　the　crowd　at　length　dispersed；
leaving　the　Ottoman　flag　waving　in　a　strong　breeze　at　the　head　of　the
flag…staff。

As　a　proof　of　his　satisfaction；　Kabba　Rega　immediately　sent　me　a　present
of　twelve　goats。

One　of　the　soldiers　had　been　caught　in　the　act　of　stealing　potatoes　from
a　native。　This　having　been　proved　conclusively　against　him；　I　sent　word
to　Kabba　Rega　to　summon　his　people　to　witness　the　punishment　of　the
offender。

A　great　crowd　of　natives　assembled；　and　the　thief　having　received
punishment　in　their　presence；　was　confined　in　the　stocks；　and　was
condemned　to　be　sent　back　to　Gondokoro。　This　strict　discipline　had　a
strong　moral　effect　upon　my　men；　as　thefts；　which　had　formerly　been　the
rule；　had　now　become　the　exception。　The　natives　were　always　assured　of
justice　and　protection。

On　19th　May；　my　people　were　ready　to　start；　with　the　post　and　the
prisoner　Suleiman；　to　Fatiko。　Kabba　Rega　declared　that　the　300　carriers
were　in　readiness　with　fifty　loads　of　flour　for　the　journey；　and　he　said
that　he　had　already　sent　orders　to　Foweera　to　prepare　the　deserted
zareeba　of　Suleiman　for　the　reception　of　Major　Abdullah　and　his
detachment　on　their　arrival。

The　party　was　to　consist　of　a　serjeant　and　ten　men　（regulars）；　together
with　twenty…five　irregulars　under　the　charge　of　my　old　Cairo　dragoman；
Mohammed。

Ali　Genninar　had　the　military　command　in　the　place　of　the　second　vakeel；
Eddrees；　who　was　suffering　from　chronic　dysentery。　I　had　arranged　that
the　party　should　start　on　the　following　day。

In　the　afternoon　I　had　an　interview　with　Kabba　Rega　in　his　private
divan；　within　our　garden。　I　was　suddenly　interrupted　by　Ali　Genninar　and
a　few　of　his　men；　who　presented　themselves　in　the　face　of　Kabba　Rega；　to
inform　me　that　they　could　not　start　without　their　guns！

It　appeared　that　on　the　day　that　Abd…el…Kader　had　ordered　Kabba　Rega　to
disarm　the　people　of　Suleiman　upon　his　first　arrival　at　Masindi；　the
young　king　had　certainly　ordered　their　disarmament；　but　he　had　himself
retained　their　arms　and　ammunition；　in　addition　to　a　goatskin　bag　with
about　300　rounds　of　ball…cartridge。　This　had　never　been　reported　to　me。

The　mendacious　young　king　had　the　audacity　to　deny　this；　in　face　of
several　witnesses；　and　he　would　at　once　have　retired　from　the　divan　（and
probably　I　should　never　have　seen　him　again）　had　I　not　insisted　upon　his
remaining　until　the　affair　had　been　thoroughly　explained。

It　was　then　discovered　that　he　had　returned　all　the　muskets　to
Abd…el…Kader；　except　five；　which　were　not　forthcoming。

I　requested　him　in　future　to　adhere　more　strictly　to　the　truth；　as　it
was　a　disgrace　for　a　man　in　his　position　to　tell　a　falsehood；　which
would　render　it　impossible　for　me　to　place　implicit　confidence　in　him；
at　the　same　time　I　insisted　upon　the　immediate　return　of　the　guns；
together　with　the　cartouche…belts　and　ammunition。

The　young　king　retired　in　great　confusion　and　stilled　anger；　with　a
promise　that　everything　should　be　restored！

In　the　afternoon　he　sent　five　wretched　old　muskets　that　had　been　injured
in　the　stocks；　and　repaired　with　the　raw　hide　of　crocodiles。　These　had
never　belonged　to　the　irregulars；　but　he　had　kept　their　good　guns；　and
hoped　to　exchange　these　wretched　weapons；　which　had　been　given　some
years　ago　to　Kamrasi　by　the　vakeel；　Ibrahim。

I　spoke　very　strongly　to　Kittakara；　his　favourite　minister；　and
explained　to　him　the　folly　and　discredit　of　such　conduct。

Kittakara　replied：　〃Is　not　Kabba　Rega　your　son？　Do　you　begrudge　him　a
few　good　guns　and　ammunition　taken　from　your　late　enemies；　the
slave…hunters？〃

It　was　in　vain　that　I　endeavoured　to　explain　that　these　people　were
subjects　of　the　Khedive；　and　had　now　received　forgiveness：　therefore；　as
they　were　engaged　as　irregulars　they　must　receive　their　arms。　Kittakara
simply　replied：　〃Do　you　believe　in　these　people？　Do　you　think　that；
because　they　have　now　enlisted　through　fear；　they　will　ever　change　their
natures？〃

I　asked　him　〃if　soap　would　wash　the　black　spots　from　a　leopard's　skin？〃
but　I　explained　that　I　could　strip　the　skin　at　once　off　the　leopard；　and
should　quickly　change　their　natures。

Day　after　day　passed；　and　the　ammunition　was　only　returned　in　driblets；
after　constant　and　most　urgent　demands。

On　21st　May　I　sent　word　to　Kabba　Rega　（who　had　declined　to　appear　in
public　or　private）　that　if　he　persisted　in　this　deception　I　should
myself　be　compelled　to　return　to　Fatiko；　as　it　would　be　impossible　for
me　to　hold　communications　with　any　person　in　whom　I　could　place　no
confidence。

In　the　event　of　my　departure　from　Unyoro　he　knew　the　consequences。　He
would　be　ridiculed　by　Rionga；　who　would　join　the　slave…hunters　and
attack　him　should　I　withdraw　my　protection。　On　the　south　he　would　be
invaded　by　M'tese；　who　would　imagine　that　Kabba　Rega　had　prevented　me
from　visiting　him；　thus　his　country　would　be　utterly　ruined。

The　chiefs；　Neka；　Kittakara；　and　Matonse；　to　whom　I　spoke；　appeared
thoroughly　to　comprehend　the　position。

During　the　day　the　five　missing　guns　were　returned；　together　with　the
goatskin　bag　（chorab）；　containing　much　of　the　missing　ammunitionsome
of　which　had　been　abstracted。

On　23rd　May　I　sent　off　the　party　to　Fatiko；　together　with　the
postincluding　letters　to　Egypt；　Khartoum；　and　England；　to　be　forwarded
by　first　opportunity。　（These　never　arrived　in　England。）

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
we