and obtained for a combined attach upon the old enemy； Rionga。 The army
of Kabba Rega had been waiting at the rendezvous in expectation of
Suleiman's assistance。 A fleet of large canoes had been concentrated at
a given point for the invasion of the island； and Kabba Rega and his
sheiks considered that at length their old enemy was in the snare。
My unexpected arrival had ruined the project； as I strictly forbade
Suleiman to attack Rionga。
This disappointed Kabba Rega and his people； who could not understand
how I could be the friend of his late father Kamrasi； and at the same
time protect his enemy Rionga。
The attack on the island was a dangerous adventure； as it was surrounded
by dense masses of papyrus rush that would prevent canoes from landing；
except at certain places were narrow passages had been cleared。 A few
men concealed among the papyrus could massacre an attacking party at
discretion； as they struggled through the narrow entrance in canoes。 It
had been proposed that Suleiman's people were to attack in boats and
clear out the enemy by a sharp fire into the papyrus to cover the
general advance。
Suleiman was in a dilemma； as he had already promised alliance； and had
received a quantity of ivory in payment for his services。 He had
accordingly made the following secret arrangement with Rahonka and
Lokara：〃Let the Pacha and his soldiers start for Masindi； and he will
suppose that Suleiman will follow on the morrow； instead of which； he
will at once join Kabba Rega's forces； and attack Rionga； when the Pacha
shall be several days' journey distant from the river。〃
On his return to Foweera from a successful invasion of Rionga's island；
the commanders of the forces； Lokara and Rahonka； were at once to
furnish carriers to transport Suleiman with all his people and ivory to
the Fabbo station； according to the instructions received from Abou
Saood。
I should thus be deceived； and be left at Masindi； 160 miles distant
from my detachment at Fatiko； without the power of communication。
At 8。30 A。M。 we were in the saddle； and started from Foweera。 Suleiman
came to kiss my hand at my departure。 We rode at once into the low
forest； and as the last man of our party disappeared from view； Suleiman
returned to his zareeba。 He then prepared for vengeance； which through
my presence had long been delayed。
He and his ferocious people dragged the prisoner （whose life I had
protected） from the camp； until they arrived at a thick grove of
plantains about 200 paces from the station。 Rahonka； Lokara； Quonga；
Matonse； and other principal chiefs； were summoned to witness the
impotence of the Pacha's power to save； and to see with their own eyes
the defiance that Suleiman would exhibit to the orders of a Christian。
〃Now let the natives clasp the knees of the Pacha and defy the power of
Suleiman！〃
The ruffian drew his sabre； and with his own hand； in the presence of a
crowd of witnesses； he hacked off the head of the unfortunate prisoner；
and thus publicly ridiculed my authority。
In the mean time； while this murder was being committed； we were
travelling onward without a suspicion of treachery。 （It will be seen how
by degrees I became acquainted with the crime and designs of Suleiman；
who had already secretly forwarded instructions to his men at Masindi at
the same time that he had communicated in his rear with Abou Saood at
Fatiko。）
Accompanied by Lady Baker； I rode at the head of the party with my usual
advanced guard of five picked men of 〃The Forty。〃 Lieutenant Baker
walked on foot； as he wished to save his horse's back that was slightly
galled。
We rode far in advance； as there was no danger to be apprehended in this
country； and my five guards with knapsacks； small axes； and general
accoutrements； kept the pace of four miles an hour for about twenty…one
miles to Kisoona。 The march had been through forest； and grass about
four feet in height； which was now growing vigorously after the recent
showers。 The large trees were covered with orchids； among which I
noticed a peculiar species which hung from the boughs like an apron。
This was exceedingly pretty； as the leaf was about eighteen inches in
breadth； the edges were scalloped and of a copper…brown colour； while
the upper portion was dark green。
The whole country had been desolated by civil war； in which the
companions of Abou Saood had taken a prominent part； and had carried off
a great number of the women。
Kisoona was a poor straggling place in the centre of the forest； but
although the beehive…shaped huts were far apart； there was the usual
amount of filth and ashes that disgrace the villages of Unyoro。 A very
large plantation of bananas afforded food for the inhabitants； all of
whom seemed to have disappeared。
Throughout Unyoro the soil is exceedingly rich； the tobacco gardens
exhibited an extreme luxuriance； and the size of the leaves formed a
great contrast to the plants in the hot soil of the Bari country。
I placed a sentry over the tobacco； and cautioned the troops against
stealing or in any way damaging the crops。
A native of Umiro travelled as our interpreter。 This man was a
confidential slave belonging to Kabba Rega； and formed one of his
regiment。 Umbogo （or the 〃Buffalo〃） was a highly intelligent fellow； and
spoke good Arabic； as he had been constantly associated with the Arab
slave…traders。 I had supplied him with clothes； and he looked quite
respectable in a blue shirt belted round the waist； with a
cartouche…pouch of leopard's skin； that had been given him by the people
of the zareeba。 Umbogo carried a musket； and was altogether a very
important personage； although a slave。
The long march of twenty…one miles； through forest； along a rough and
narrow path； had delayed the carriers and the cattle。 Although my men
had stepped along so briskly； the rear…guard did not arrive until the
evening。 A tremendous downpour of rain deluged the ground。 This was a
godsend to us； who were well housed and tented； as we caught a good
supply of water with the mackintosh camp…sheets that was very superior
to the contents of a small pool； which usually sufficed for the village
people。
I always travelled with a large sponging bath； which was one of the
household gods of the expedition。 This was now full of pure rain water。
The value of this old friend was incalculable。 In former years I had
crossed the Atbara river in this same bath； lashed upon an angareb
（stretcher）； supported by inflated skins。 Without extra flotation it
would support my weight； and it was always used when crossing a small
stream； assisted by two men wading； one of whom held it on either side
to prevent it from overturning。 Thus we could travel without the
necessity of plunging into deep mud and water。
Such a utensil was invaluable for watering the horses； also for washing
clothes； or for receiving a supply of rain…water during a shower； from
the camp…sheets suspended above the bath。
The neighbourhood of Kisoona was very populous； but the villages were
all concealed in the forest； amidst vast groves of bananas。
There was a large tract of potato cultivation； a supply of these welcome
roots was with difficulty obtained from the natives。
It appeared to be a repetition of my former experience in this country；
which unpleasantly reminded me of the scarcity of food during my first
exploration of Unyoro。
On the following morning （12th April）； when the horses were saddled and
we were ready to start； not a single native was forthcoming。 Every man
of about 200 carriers had absconded！
〃Although Rahonka had assured me； previous to starting from the river；
that food would be ready for the troops at every halting…place； nothing
has been prepared。 We are thus left as much neglected as during my
former voyage in this detestable country。 There is not one sheik with
us； although three principal chiefs were told off to accompany us to
Masindi。 I therefore told our friend Pittia that I should not proceed
farther； as I would have nothing to do with so miserable a king as Kabba
Rega。
〃I immediately sent Colonel Abd…el…Kader back to Foweera with thirty
men； and a letter to Suleiman； ordering him to collect 300 men at once
to return my effects to his zareeba。 I tied Pittia； the guide； by a
small cord attached to the neck； as I feared he also might escape。 What
can be done with these treacherous people？
〃There is a report； now confirmed by the dragoman； Umbogo； that a plan
had been arranged between Suleiman and Rahonka that I should be led out
of their way； and they would then join their forces and attack Rionga。
〃I do not believe that Suleiman would place his head in such a halter。
〃Very heavy rain at 1 P。M。
〃April 13。The soil is wonderfully fertilethis is a chocolate…
coloured vegetable loam。 Among the crops is a species of esculent
solanum； with large orange…coloured berries； both the fruit and leaves
are eaten by the natives。
〃I repaired my boots to…day with the milk from the india…rubber…tree。
Julian （Lieutenant Baker） had fever。 Colonel Abd…el…Kader and party
returned at 2。40 P。M。； having marched rapidly； and accomplished their
mission and a journey of forty…two miles in twenty…seven hours and forty
minutes。
〃This excellent officer brought with him； secured by a small leather
thong； by the neck； the great sheiks Kittakara； Matonse； and several
smaller fry。
〃The royal sheik； Rahonka； escaped by breaking through the side of his
hut。
〃The report was as follows：
〃Colonel Abd…el…Kader and his party of thirty men had arrived at
Suleiman's zareeba at about 8 P。M。 He found the vakeels； Suleiman and
Eddrees； surrounded by many of their men； apparently in consultation。
〃Upon Abd…el…Kader's appearance； the men moved off； one by one； and
quietly packed up their effects； preparatory to a general flight。
〃Abd…el…Kader informed Suleiman of the desertion of our carriers。 He
then at once proceeded to the native zareeba； about 200 yards from the
camp。 He there found the principal sheiks in the hut of Rahonka。
〃Abd…el…Kader immediately informed them of the purport of his arrival；
and requested the sheiks to accompany him to the zareeba of Suleiman。
Raho