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 himself to Suleiman's party at some former time； but now he had
just escaped from the Foweera station； as Suleiman wished to kill him。
〃In a few minutes Suleiman himself appeared： he was pale with rage。
〃Suleiman was a thorough brigand in appearance。 His father was a Kurd：
thus his complexion would have been white had he not been for many years
exposed to the African climate。 He was a powerful dare…devil…looking
fellow； but even among his own people he was reputed cruel and
vindictive。
〃He was so overpowered with passion that he approached and kissed my
hand at the same time imploring me； 'as a favour； to allow him to cut
off the native's head with his sabre。'
〃Upon a trial of the case； I found that the native was a thief； and that
upon a former occasion he had stolen a gun and two pistols from the
camp； which； after some trouble； had been recovered。 He was now accused
of aiding and abetting at the escape of five female slaves from the
zareeba during the past night； therefore he was to be beheaded without
delay。
〃As this was not my form of punishment； especially for the crime of
_releasing slaves_ that had been captured by force； I ordered the native
to be secured in the zareeba until further orders； but on no account
should he be injured。
〃Although I had heard from my old Cairo dragoman； Mohammed； that the
prisoner was a bad character； I did not wish to punish him severely； as
the effect among the natives of the country would be disastrous。 He had
run to me for protection； therefore； should he suffer； a precedent would
be established that would deter others from appealing to me for mercy。
〃The man was led away under a guard and was secured in the zareeba。
Suleiman acknowledged that he was in an inexcusable rage； but that I had
been just in my decision； and he would keep the prisoner in safe custody
until further orders。 Suleiman was to accompany me on the journey to
Masindi on the following morning； as Rahonka had collected the native
carriers。
〃That evening； after a heavy shower； we witnessed one of those
remarkable appearances of the winged white ants that issued from a mound
within a few yards of our tent。 Millions of these large fat insects
struggled into their ephemeral flight； and were quickly caught by our
people with lighted wisps of straw。 The ant disengages its wings a few
minutes after its appearance from the parent mound。
〃The exodus from the ant…hill takes place annually at the commencement
of the rainy season； and the collection of the insects is considered to
be an important harvest throughout all Central Africa。 The white ant； in
this stage of its existence； is esteemed as a great delicacy when fried
in a little butter。
〃We tasted a considerable number； and found them tolerably good； but
with a slight flavour of burnt feathers。
〃On April 11 we were ready to start； but at the last moment the vakeel；
Suleiman； who was to accompany us； excused himself until the next day；
as he had some important business to transact with his people。 I
accordingly gave him permission to remain； but I ordered him to follow
me quickly； as it would be necessary to present him to Kabba Rega in his
new position as vakeel of the government。〃 。 。 。 。
It will now be necessary to explain the true position of affairs； which
at that time I did not suspect。
Upon my first arrival at the river； when I had explained my views to
Suleiman； he had immediately despatched a letter to Abou Saood at
Fatiko。 His party had travelled fast； and they returned with an answer。
I could never discover the actual contents of the letter in reply； but I
heard that it cautioned Suleiman not to part with the slaves； and to
join Abou Saood with his ivory and all his people at the station of
Fabbo； a day's march west of Fatiko。
Suleiman was in an awkward position。 He had always held a high place in
the eyes of Kabba Rega and his chiefs； and his alliance had been courted
and obtained for a combined attach upon the old enemy； Rionga。 The army
of Kabba Rega had been waitin