months。
〃The rank of the vakeel would be equivalent to that of major in the
regular army。
〃The pay would be equal to that of regular troops。
〃If I can form a regiment of 600 irregulars I shall be independent of
troops from Khartoum。
〃March 26。 Quonga and many other sheiks arrived； and were quite
delighted with the wheel of life。
〃The natives are selling sweet potatoes and tobacco for beads； but flour
is brought in very small quantities。
〃March 27。 Provisions are coming in so slowly that we shall be short
of food。 Upon the arrival of Quonga and his sheiks； I make a hot
complaint； he coldly told me that it would be better if the soldiers
were to forage for themselves。
〃I explained to him the rigid discipline that I enforced； and that；
should I once permit thieving； the troops' character would be entirely
ruined； and they would pillage throughout the route。
〃He replied that this neighbourhood was in a state of anarchy； that many
of the inhabitants were hostile to Kabba Rega； and they would not obey
his orders。
〃I told him that my troops were lambs if well fed； but they were like
lions if hungry； and to prove their number I would summon them before
him。
〃The bugle sounded the 'taboor；' and upwards of 100 men immediately fell
in with bayonets fixed； to the no small dismay of Quonga and his sheiks；
who began to look very uneasy at the scarlet uniforms。 By a coup de
theatre； I marched the men； with bugles and drums playing； round the
numerous huts； so that they reappeared twice before the tent； and thus
doubled their real number。
〃At the halt and dismissal； they shouted their usual wild cry in
Turkish； in honour of their commander。
〃'Do you understand what they say？' I asked Quonga。 To his negative
reply； I answered； 'They say they will eat from the country if
provisions are not supplied to…morrow！'
〃Quonga and his sheiks started off immediately to give the necessary
orders。
〃Upon his return I told him 'to advise Kabba Rega to behave in a
different manner to the conduct of his father； the late Kamrasi。 I had
returned to this country to bestow prosperity upon the land； that if
Kabba Rega meant fair dealing and legitimate trade； he must act
honourably and sincerely； if I should find any signs of unfairness； I
should pass on direct to Uganda； the Country of M'tese； and he would
receive the goods I had intended for Unyoro。'
〃Negroes are great deceivers； especially the natives of Unyoro。 I have
beads； cattle； merchandise； and every article necessary to purchase
flour and potatoes： nevertheless； our wants are not supplied。 The cattle
are dying； as the change of herbage does not agree with them； this is a
sad loss。 （One of the African difficulties consists in the mortality
of the cattle when changing districts。）
〃March 28。 The great sheik； Lokara； who is the commander…in…chief of
Kabba Rega's forces； arrived。 This man has left a large army on the
banks of the Nile； a few hours' march up stream； ready to attack Rionga；
who is settled； with his people； on an island in the river。 Of course he
is come to request military aid。 This is the old story。 Upon my last
visit I was bored almost to death by Kamrasi； with requests that I would
assist him to attack Rionga。 I have only been here for a few days when I
am troubled with the old tune。
〃March 29。 Provisions are very scarce； the people have been fighting
for so many years that cultivation has been much neglected； and the
natives live principally upon plantains。
〃I gave Suleiman； the vakeel； five cows yesterday。 He declares that Abou
Saood told him that my term of service with the Egyptian government had
expired； therefore the entire country was now in his hands。 This liar；
Abou Saood； will some day reap the fruits of his treachery。
〃I ordered the government flag to be hoisted in Suleiman's camp； and the
vakeel； Suleiman； called upon all those who were willing to enlist in
the service of the Khedive to assemble beneath the ensign。 Sixty…one men
registered their names。
〃The only difficulty is the rate of wages。 I offer the privates sixty
piastres （the piastre equals twopence…halfpenny） per month； i。e。；
thirty piastres as equal pay to that of the regulars； and thirty
piastres in lieu of clothes。 Formerly these brigands nominally received
fifty and fifty…five piastres； in addition to one third of all cattle
that might be captured in razzias。
〃Should I be able to establish a small irregular corps as a
commencement； the expense would be considerable in proportion to the
actual proceeds in ivory。 The position is difficult。
〃A radical change throughout the country is absolutely necessary。 The
companies have hitherto purchased ivory with slaves and cattle； thus all
countries in which this custom has been established； must be abandoned
until the natives will sell ivory in exchange for goods。
〃The expenses will continue； or perhaps augment； while the ivory produce
must decrease for the first twelve months； or until the people will
understand and accept the reform。
〃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