life size； of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales。 The scarlet
walls were hung with large coloured prints； life size； of very beautiful
women； with very gorgeous dresses； all the jewelry being imitated by
pieces of coloured tinsel。 A number of sporting prints； very large； and
also coloured； were arranged in convenient places on the walls。 There
were fox…hunting scenes； and German stag…hunts； together with a few
quiet landscapes； that always recalled the dear old country now so far
away。
The furniture was simple enough： two angarebs； or Arab stretchers；
which； during the day； were covered with Persian carpets and served as
sofas； while at night they were arranged as beds。 The tables were made
of square metal boxes piled one upon the other and covered with bright
blue cloths。 These were arranged with all kinds of odd trinkets of gaudy
appearance； but of little value； which were intended to be asked for；
and given away。 Two native stools curiously cut out of a solid block
formed our chairs。 The guns and rifles stood in a row against a rack
covered with red Turkey cloth； and a large Geneva musical box lay upon a
table beneath the Princess of Wales。
Altogether the room was exceedingly pretty。 It would have been vulgar if
in England； but it was beautifully clean； and it shortly became the
wonder of Central Africa。
I had brought the large gilt mirrors from England specially for M'tese；
the king of Uganda； and for Kamrasi。 I knew that if they were arranged
in my own house； the news would be carried to M'tese immediately； and
the fact of so great a curiosity and treasure being on the road to him
would at once open a communication。
On 8th May； the prisoners of Suleiman's company； numbering twenty…five
persons； came to the divan； headed by Ali Genninar； and supplicated
forgiveness。 They all declared their desire to be registered on the
government books as irregular troops。
I had already witnessed an example of their duplicity； therefore I had
no confidence in their professions； but at the same time I did not know
what to do with them。 The fact of their being in custody required twenty
soldiers to relieve the necessary guards。 I therefore determined to be
magnanimous； as I was only too happy to be rid of such bad bargains
should they run away。 The only man that I trusted was Ali Genninar； he
was a clever and plucky fellow that I had known in my former African
journey； at which time he belonged to the company of Ibrahim。
After a good lecture I forgave them； and they all received their serkis
（certificates） as members of the irregular corps。 Ali Genninar was to
have the rank of lieutenant。
I told them that it was my intention to hoist the Ottoman flag； and to
officially annex the country in the presence of Kabba Rega and his
people； therefore I did not wish any subjects of the Khedive to be in
disgrace upon such an occasion； excepting only Suleiman； who would be
sent to Cairo on the first opportunity； to answer for the murder of the
prisoner at Foweera。 I therefore divided a few pounds of beads among
them for the purchase of new bark…cloths； as I could not allow them to
appear in their dirty clothes on the day of the ceremony。
They all went away rejoicing； and swearing fidelity； at the same time
confessing their sins； and vowing that I had treated them better than
they had deserved。
As usual； our proceedings were narrowly watched by the guards stationed
at Kabba Rega's new divan； within fifty yards of my house。 These spies
immediately ran off to their master with the report that I had forgiven
the slave…hunters who were lately prisoners； and that I had actually
made them presents of beads。 （At that time I had not the slightest
idea that the liberation of the prisoners would excite suspicion in the
minds of Kabba Rega and his people； but there can be no doubt that this
act of clemency on my part destroyed the confidence which had previously
existed。）
This report was quickly confirmed； as the new and dirty members of the
irregular corps； who were now at liberty； presented themselves in the
town with their hands full of beads to purchase the necessary
bark…cloths。 These cloths are prepared from the bark of a species of
fig…tree in a very simple manner； which I have personally witnessed。
A piece of bark about six feet long； and as wide as possible； is
detached from the trunk of the tree。 The outside rind is pared off by a
lance…head used with two hands； like a cooper's drawing…knife。 The bark
is then laid upon a beam of wood on the ground； on which it is hammered
with a mallet grooved in fine cuts； so that the repeated blows stamp the
bark with lines somewhat resembling corduroy。 This hammering expands the
bark； which is repeatedly turned and hammered again； until at length it
is beaten into a cloth of rather fine texture。 The action of the air
colours the material； which； although white when first stripped from the
tree； quickly assumes a delicate shade of brown； as a slice of an apple
oxydizes upon exposure in our own climate。
The finest cloths are ornamented with patterns in black。 These are
simply produced by drawing the design with water from iron springs；
which combining with the tannin of the bark immediately stains it。
The sheets of bark…cloth are frequently dyed this colour by immersing
them for a short time in springs of the same water。
The finest cloths are produced in Uganda； and all that are used for
royal wear are brought from that country in exchange for ivory。
My new men； the late slave…hunters； who I hoped were 〃wicked men that
had turned away from their wickedness；〃 had succeeded in purchasing a
quantity of new cloths ready for the day of annexation。
That night； at about nine o'clock； just before we were going to bed； we
had remarked an extraordinary stillness in the town of Masindi。 There
was not a whisper to be heard throughout the capital； where generally
the night was passed in the uproar of drunken singing and blowing of
horns。
Suddenly this extraordinary silence was broken by the deep notes of a
nogara or drum。 This sounded for a second or two； and ceased。 Again all
was still as death。
A sudden burst of hellish noise； such as I have never heard before or
since； now startled every soldier to his feet； and without orders； every
man armed and fell into position！
Colonel Abd…el…Kader； with his sword belted on and a rifle in his hand；
came to me for orders on the instant。 The ever…ready Monsoor was armed
and by my side。
In the mean time the din of very many thousands continued； yelling and
shrieking as though maniacs； I should imagine that at least a thousand
drums were beating； innumerable horns were blowing； with whistles；
fifes； and every instrument that would add to the horrible uproar。
At the same time not a human being was visible。
Mohammed； the dragoman； appeared； together with Umbogo。 In reply to my
question as to the cause of such a sudden irruption of noise； Umbogo
laughed； and said it was 〃TO MAKE ME AFRAID； and to exhibit the great
numbers of people that were collected at Masindi。〃
This was all。 I therefore at once ordered the band to play； as I
determined to accept the carefully planned surprise as a compliment that
I would return。
The band struck up； the cymbals clashed； the big drum thundered； and the
buglers blew their loudest； while the regimental drums rattled away as
hard as the sticks could roll upon the skins。
In a short time the noise of the town ceased； and the only sound was
occasioned by our own band。
I ordered them to cease playing。 Once more there was perfect stillness。
I ordered the sentries to keep a sharp look…out； and we all went to bed。
This was a practical joke that did not please me； as it smacked of
distrust and defiance。 It took place on the same day upon which I had
liberated the slave…hunter's people； and engaged them as irregular
troops。
On the following morning I sent several messengers to Kabba Rega to beg
him to pay me a visit。 They all returned； some saying that he was
asleepothers； that he was drunk。 It was the usual habit of this young
man to get very drunk every night； and to sleep until about 2 p。m。； when
he dressed and attended at his public divan。
I now heard that native messengers had arrived from the country of
Faieera； which formed one of the districts within nine miles of Fatiko；
under the charge of the great sheik； Rot Jarma； who had sworn allegiance
to the government； and was under the protection of Major Abdullah。
These messengers had brought some guns and ammunition to sell to Kabba
Rega。 They wished particularly to see me； as they had important news。
When they appeared in the divan； I at once recognized them as people
that I had seen at Fatiko。
They informed me that since my departure； Abou Saood and his people had
ridiculed the authority of my commandant； Major Abdullah； and to prove
to the natives how powerless he was to protect them； Abou Saood had sent
his men to attack Rot Jarma； and they had carried off his cattle and
slaves。
The messengers declared that both Rot Jarma and all the natives were
delighted with Major Abdullah and his troops； as they were very
different from the slave…hunters； but the latter were too numerous and
strong for Abdullah to contend against。
I told them that Abdullah was only waiting for orders； but if such was
the state of things 〃why had he not written a letter by this
opportunity？〃
The natives asserted that the slave…hunters of Abou Saood had lost five
of their party； killed in the attack upon Rot Jarma； therefore they （the
messengers） were afraid to go near the station of Major Abdullah。 They
had accordingly travelled fast to bring me the news （160 miles）； at the
same time they brought the guns for sale to Kabba Rega。
It was the old story of deception and rebellion。 Before my face Abou
Saood would cringe to the earth； but he became an open rebel in my
absence。 It was absolutely necessary to place this man under arrest。
When the Baris were at open war with the government； he had not only
associated with their chief； but he had armed parties of these natives
with muskets； which he employed in his zareebas。
He now att