and requested the sheiks to accompany him to the zareeba of Suleiman。
Rahonka begged to be left alone for a short time to enable him to dress。
〃Abd…el…Kader waited outside the door of the hut； and； becoming tired of
so long a delay； he re…entered； and to his astonishment found the
dwelling _empty。_ Rahonka had escaped by a hole in the straw wall。
〃Suspicion being raised by the incomprehensible flight of Rahonka； the
colonel placed the remaining sheiks under a guard； and led them to
Suleiman's zareeba。 He then applied to Suleiman for a guard of eight men
to watch the sheiks during the night； as his own party required rest。
〃Suleiman now informed him that he could not supply the men； as all his
people had absconded from fear （of Abd…el…Kader）。
〃On the following morning the colonel perceived； from the smoke above
our old camp on the opposite side of the river （which in this part is
500 yards broad）； that Suleiman's people had escaped during the night；
and had crossed the river with all their slaves and effects。
〃This was the first act of my new irregular levythey had positively
run away from the colonel like a parcel of hostile natives！
〃Suleiman and Eddrees declared that they could not control their men；
who were afraid that I had ordered my officer to release the slaves that
were in their possession。 （The truth was they considered that I had
heard of the murder of the prisoner committed to the care of Suleiman；
and that I had sent the colonel and his party to make inquiries。）
〃Abd…el…Kader ordered Suleiman to accompany him to my halting…place at
Kisoona。 Suleiman declined upon the excuse that he had some business；
but that he would present himself to…morrow。〃
〃I can stand these scoundrels' conduct no longer。 I have tried lenient
measures； and I had hoped that by forming Suleiman's party into an
irregular corps I might be able； by degrees； to change their habits； and
to reduce them by good discipline into useful troops； but 'Can the
Ethiopian change his skin； or the leopard his spots？'
〃I immediately released and examined the captive sheiks； who one and all
declared that the fault lay with Suleiman； who had previously arranged
the plan with Rahonka： that when I should be led away a distance of two
days' journey； he would assemble his men and attack Rionga in
conjunction with Rahonka's army。
〃The report of Umbogo； the dragoman； is thus corroborated by
overwhelming evidence。 This man； Umbogo； declares that Abou Saood wrote
to Suleiman； instructing him to wait until I should have passed on； and
then to bring all his slaves to Fabbo。
〃I immediately sent Captain Mohammed Deii with fifty men； including
twenty…five of the 'Forty Thieves；' with orders to liberate all slaves
that might be discovered within the zareeba。 He was to summon all the
people of Suleiman； and to disarm those who had run away from the
colonel； Abd…el…Kader。
〃In the event of resistance； he was to use the force at his disposal；
and at all hazards to prevent the escape of the slavers across the
river。
〃Suleiman and Eddrees were to be brought before me。
〃A heavy shower fell just after the troops started。
〃April 14。Julian's horse； Gazelle； died last night； the poor animal
had been ill for some days。
〃Quonga； who is the sheik of this district； came this morning and
excused his absence in rather a lame fashion； by saying that he had been
collecting food for the troops； together with carriers； who are now
ready to transport the baggage to Masindi。 He declared that Kabba Rega
was impatient； and had sent three of Suleiman's people to deliver the
message to me； but these rascals had passed on this morning direct to
the zareeba of Suleiman； without communicating with us on the way。
〃Quonga not only corroborated the testimony of the sheiks and the
dragoman； Umbogo； against Suleiman； as having conspired to attack Rionga
after my departure； but he gave additional evidence； that 'Suleiman had
told Rahonka and the great sheiks that I； the Pacha； knew nothing about
war； that none of the government troops could shoot； and that I should
only travel and subsist upon the country； but that he （Suleiman） would
join them and kill Rionga after I should have departed。'
〃This I believe to be true； as a few days ago； when speaking of the
troops； I told Suleiman that the Soudanis were very hardy soldiers for
marching and resisting climate； but that generally they were bad shots。
Thus； in a treacherous manner； he has informed the natives that the
soldiers of the government cannot shoot。 In the afternoon； fresh reports
reached me that Suleiman had； with his own hands； murdered the native to
whom I had given protection。 He had committed this horrible act the
instant that my back was turned； and he had exhibited the crime before
the great sheiks in derision of my authority！
〃At 4。30 P。M。 Captain Mohammed Deii returned with his party of fifty
men； together with the vakeels； Suleiman and Eddrees； with six of their
men who had been met upon their road from Masindi； and eight slaves。
〃As I had expected； the greater number of Suleiman's people had escaped
with their slaves to Fabbo； when the Colonel； Abd…el…Kader； had suddenly
appeared among them； his arrival had disconcerted all Suleiman's
arrangements； and my detention at Kisoona had completely upset all his
plans respecting an alliance with Rahonka's army。 That cunning general
had gone off straight to Kabba Rega after his escape through the wall of
his hut。
〃I summoned the great sheiks； Kittakara； Quonga； together with Pittia；
and several others。 These men gave their evidence most clearly as
witnesses to the plan arranged by Suleiman for the attack upon Rionga；
and as eye…witnesses to the murder of the prisoner； whom they saw
dragged by Suleiman and his men to the grove of bananas； where he was
beheaded。
〃I ordered Suleiman and his people to be disarmed； and secured both him
and Eddrees in shebas。
〃The sun had set； and； the sky being over…cast； it had become extremely
dark。
〃I proceeded at once to the trial of Suleiman and Eddrees； as the
witnesses were all present。
〃The bugler sounded the 'taboor' （assembly）； and the officers and troops
quickly appeared； and formed in line two deep； facing the table at which
we sat。 I ordered half…a…dozen large port…fires to be brought； these
were lighted and held by six men who stepped forward from the ranks。 The
blaze of red light illumined the whole neighbourhood； and cast a
peculiar glow upon the dark foliage of the bananas and the forms of the
dusky chiefs who sat in a line opposite the troops。
〃Suleiman and Eddrees were led by the guard； and appeared before the
tribunal。 Suleiman； although pinioned； retained the same haughty swagger
that had always distinguished him。 The charges against him were as
follows：
〃1。 For having conspired to attack Rionga； in direct opposition to my
positive orders。
〃2。 For treasonably speaking against the government of the Khedive to
the native chiefs。
〃3。 For arranging and abetting the escape of the irregular new levy； who
had enlisted in the government service； together with that of the
slaves。
〃4。 For having murdered； with his own hands； a native whom I had
confided to his care。
〃After a careful trial the prisoner was found guilty upon every charge；
and the second vakeel； Eddrees； was proved to have been an accomplice。
〃I immediately sentenced Suleiman to receive 200 lashes upon the spot；
as a first instalment of future punishment。 Blue lights had been
substituted for the port…fires that had burned out； and the haughty
brigand； Suleiman； was laid upon the ground by the ready troops to
receive his punishment。
〃My ever…present attendant； Monsoor； volunteered to be one of the
whippers； and the pride and audacity of the prisoner were soon exchanged
for effeminate cries for pardon。 It was this same man； Suleiman； who had
flogged a poor boy nearly to death during my former journey； and the
life of the child had with difficulty been saved by the kind attention
of my wife。 When he now cried for mercy； I recalled to his recollection
the unfortunate boy whose posterior he had literally CUT OFF with a whip
of hippopotamus' hide。 。 。 。
〃Eddrees was sentenced to receive 100 lashes； but when thirty strokes
had been administered； the native chiefs interceded in his behalf；
saying that the great blame rested upon Suleiman； and that Eddrees was
not a bad man； but that he was obliged to obey the orders of his
superior。
〃They now continued； 'that Suleiman had ruined the country； that he had
kidnapped all the women and children； and that the natives had fled from
their homes as the result。'
〃I was much struck with the straightforward； at the same time moderate
behaviour of the native chiefs。 I accordingly spared Eddrees； who at
once turned evidence against Suleiman； together with two of his own
soldiers。
〃They signed a declaration as witnesses of the murder of the native by
Suleiman。 This paper was formally witnessed and signed by Lieutenant
Baker； Colonel Abd…el…Kader； and Captain Mohammed Deii。
〃The punishment having been awarded and the prisoners withdrawn； but
secured in shebas by the guard； I addressed the native chiefs； assuring
them of my protection； and that in future the country should be governed
with perfect justice； that property and the rights of women and children
would be respected； and that any transgressor of the law would be
punished。 I explained that the object of the expedition was to bring
prosperity； but； on the other hand； I should expect fidelity from Kabba
Rega and his people。 I told them that I should lead the prisoners in
shebas to Kabba Rega； he must then summon a general assembly of his
chiefs to hear and witness the truth。
〃I now ordered the bugler to sound the 'destoor' （retreat）； and the
troops marched back to their quarters。
〃The trial was over； the blue lights had burnt out； and we were now in
comparative darkness beneath the banana foliage； with a feeble lamp
glimmering on the table。
〃The native chiefs declared their perfect confidence in the government；
and that we should start on the following morning direct for Masindi。〃
CHAPTER X