establish a new trade。
I told him that fathers did not give their sons all their property at
once； but that if I saw that he performed his duty to the Khedive； he
need not fear。 I had both the power and the good…will to reward him。
He continued the conversation precisely according to his late father
Kamrasi's style： 〃I have no one but yourself to regard。 Does not a
father consider the interests of his son？ You were my father's friend；
and I have always looked for your return。 I knew that Abou Saood was a
liar when he spoke against you； I knew that he was an impostor when he
announced himself as the son of a sultan。 Would the son of a sultan only
give me a present of an old carpet and a dirty washing…basin？ I always
said； 'Wait till the Pacha comes'； Mallegge； （Mallegge； or the Man with
the Beard； was my nickname in Unyoro during my former journey。） my
father's friend。 He is truly a great man； who does not travel
empty…handed； and he will bring me presents worth my acceptancethings
that the impostor； Abou Saood； does not understand the use of。' By the
by； there was a magic instrument with which you could find your way
without a guide in strange countries； that you PROMISED to send to my
father； you have； of course； brought it for me？〃
This demand amused me much； as I well remembered how Kamrasi had
bothered me for my compass。 I pretended that he meant a watch； which I
had already given him。
At length I was obliged to promise that if he would clear away the grass
and cultivate the neighbouring ground； I would give him a compass。
I now explained the advantages of free trade； and I begged him to order
his men to complete the government house without delay； as I could not
unpack my numerous boxes until I had some place where I could exhibit
the contents。 I described the difficulties of the route from Khartoum；
and the expense of transport from Gondokoro； owing to the unwillingness
of the Baris to carry loads； and I explained my intention of erecting
steamers on the Nile which would bring all kinds of merchandise to
Unyoro via the Albert N'yanza in exchange for ivory； thus the Zanzibar
trade would turn towards the north and the elephants' tusks that were
now purchased by M'tese； would remain in Unyoro； until delivered to the
Khedive's government in barter for manufactured goods。
The name of M'tese seemed to make him uncomfortable。 He replied： 〃You
are my father； and you will stand by your son against his enemies。 This
M'tese troubles me。 In my father Kamrasi's lifetime he frequently
attacked us； and carried off our herds together with our women and
children。 He is too strong to resist single…handed； but now that you are
hero I shall have no fear。 Don't let us talk about merchandise； that
will come in due time； never mind trade； let us talk about guns and
gunpowder。 You must give me muskets and ammunition in large quantities；
I will then arm all my bonosoora （soldiers） and with your assistance I
will fight M'tese。 I will then fill your large new house with ivory for
the Khedive。〃
〃There is no time to lose； you PROMISED to fight Rionga； my troops are
all ready； your men have nothing to do。 Keep a few here； and send the
main force with my army to attack him at once； before he has time to
escape to the Langgos。〃
I could almost have imagined that I had been speaking with Kamrasi； so
thoroughly did his son resemble him in his diplomacy。
I answered him with caution； declaring that I could not allow any
reckless acts that would plunge the country in confusion。 He （Kabba
Rega） had nothing to fear； but time was required to ripen my plans。 I
had promised that I would dismiss Suleiman and his people from Unyoro：
at the same time I should liberate all the slaves that had been stolen
by Abou Saood's companies； and restore them to their homes。 This was my
first duty； that would assure the natives of my sincerity； and establish
general confidence in the government。
Fatiko was 160 miles distant。 I should therefore send Suleiman and his
people under an escort direct to Major Abdullah； the commandant； with
orders to recover from Abou Saood all the slaves that had been captured
from Unyoro。
Major Abdullah would then break up his camp at Fatiko； and march in
charge of the slaves； with his detachment of 100 men； together with all
effects； and join me at Unyoro。 He would； upon arrival at the Victoria
Nile； occupy the now deserted station of Suleiman at Foweera； thus he
would be within a march of Rionga。
The old enemy of the family （Rionga） would then have an opportunity；
either of declaring his allegiance and remaining at peace； or； should he
become turbulent； a government force would be at hand to control him。
I therefore arranged that Kabba Rega should supply me with 300 carriers；
who would accompany my escort to Fatiko and transport all stores；
ammunition； &c。； &c。； so as to concentrate my force in Unyoro。
This plan seemed to delight Kabba Rega； he declared that the first step
necessary was the banishment of Suleiman and his people from the
country。 The next move would be the attack upon Rionga。 I explained to
him that it would be quite useless for any enemy to retreat for security
to the river islands； as the rockets would search them out in the middle
of the dense canes； and they would be only too glad to escape； but at
the same time； I should hope that Rionga would come to terms and avoid
the necessity of a resort to force。
That evening； after we had dined； and I was smoking my customary
chibouque； Kabba Rega astonished me by an impromptu visit； he was as
usual attended by some of his followers armed with muskets。 He sat down
at the table； and having felt the table…cloth； he wished to know 〃why
the table was covered；〃 he then examined the tumblers； and everything
that was present； all of which he seemed to admire。 I offered him some
gin and water。 This he smelt but would not taste； as he suspected
poison； accordingly he poured it into wine glasses； and divided it among
three of his people； who were obliged to drink it； while their master
watched them attentively； in expectation of some ill effects。 His people
rather approved of the poison； and asked for more。 Kabba Rega seemed to
think that a larger dose was necessary； but as we could not afford to
waste Geneva by experiments upon numerous attendants； all of whom were
to be poisoned with our good liquor for the amusement of the king； I
sent the bottle away and turned the subject。
Kabba Rega now minutely examined the lamps and glass shades。 The
principle was explained to him； and the candle was withdrawn from the
tube and spring； and again replaced。 He expressed a wish to have one；
saying that he intended to have everything precisely as I had。
I assured him that this was my object； I wished to create new wants
among his people and himself； which would tend to develop commerce。 He
might have everything in European style； and live in a civilized manner；
now that the route was open from the north。 Ivory was abundant in this
country； and this would provide him with the means of purchasing all
that he could desire。
I had ordered Monsoor to arrange a stake in the ground； with a large
nail driven in the top at right angles to form a rocket…stand。 I now
asked Kabba Rega if he would like to see a rocket fired。
The idea delighted him； and a few rockets having been brought； together
with port…fires and blue lights； we exhibited the fireworks。 There was
no wind； thus the rockets did no damage； as they were inclined towards
the north； in which direction there were no buildings。
Kabba Rega himself ignited a rocket with a port…fire； and although
rather nervous at the great rush of fire； he seemed interested at the
fact that a town composed of straw huts could be destroyed from a
distance 。 。 。 。
On the following morning； Umbogo； the dragoman； told me that the natives
had been very much frightened at the rockets； as they said； 〃the Pacha
was going to set the sky on fire。〃
The station was progressing rapidly。 The soil was of such extraordinary
richness that the seeds sprang up like magic。 On the third day after
sowing； the cucumbers； melons； pumpkins； and cotton seeds； showed
themselves above ground。
I had made a broad walk of red gravel from Kabba Rega's new divan； to
the government house。 The roads and approaches were finished； and all
neatly laid with fresh gravel stamped firmly down。 The borders of all
paths and roads were sown with the best quality of Egyptian cotton；
known in Egypt as galleen。 My large tent was pitched beneath an immense
banian…tree； close to which was the new government house。 This
grand…sounding name was given to a very solid construction of a most
simple character。 The divan was a building containing only one room
twenty…eight feet long by fourteen wide； and about twenty feet high。 It
was carefully thatched with overhanging eaves； which formed a narrow
verandah； and it was entered by a commodious porch； this was arched in
the native fashion； and was so large that it formed a lobby； in which we
sometimes dined。 The inside walls of the divan were neatly made with
canes closely lashed together。
There was a back door to this public room which communicated with a
separate house by a covered way。
This was our private residence； which also consisted of only one room；
but I had arranged it with extreme neatness； in order to excite the
admiration of Kabba Rega and his chiefs； who would； I hoped； imitate the
manners and customs of civilized life； and thus improve trade。
The room was twenty…four feet long by thirteen wide。 The walls were as
usual made of canes； but these were carefully hung with scarlet
blankets； sewn together and stretched to the ground； so as to form an
even surface。 The floor was covered with mats。 Upon the walls opposite
to each other； so as to throw endless reflection； were two large oval
mirrors （girandoles） in gilt metal frames。 A photograph of her Majesty
the Queen stood on the toilet table。
At the extreme end of the room was a very good coloured print； nearly
life size； of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales。 The scarlet
walls were hung with large coloured prints； life size； of ve