about a thousand people。
The band played； Kabba Rega's drums and horns sounded； and the troops
formed a hollow square to listen to a short address。
Kabba Rega was invited within the square； and the men faced about with
fixed bayonets； as though prepared to receive cavalry。 It was now
explained to the young king that this formation defended all sides from
attack at the same time。 He seemed more interested in getting out again；
than in the explanation of military tactics。 He evidently had suspicions
that he was fairly entrapped when he found himself in the middle of the
square。
The flag was now hoisted with due formality； the usual military salutes
took place； volleys were fired； and the crowd at length dispersed；
leaving the Ottoman flag waving in a strong breeze at the head of the
flag…staff。
As a proof of his satisfaction； Kabba Rega immediately sent me a present
of twelve goats。
One of the soldiers had been caught in the act of stealing potatoes from
a native。 This having been proved conclusively against him； I sent word
to Kabba Rega to summon his people to witness the punishment of the
offender。
A great crowd of natives assembled； and the thief having received
punishment in their presence； was confined in the stocks； and was
condemned to be sent back to Gondokoro。 This strict discipline had a
strong moral effect upon my men； as thefts； which had formerly been the
rule； had now become the exception。 The natives were always assured of
justice and protection。
On 19th May； my people were ready to start； with the post and the
prisoner Suleiman； to Fatiko。 Kabba Rega declared that the 300 carriers
were in readiness with fifty loads of flour for the journey； and he said
that he had already sent orders to Foweera to prepare the deserted
zareeba of Suleiman for the reception of Major Abdullah and his
detachment on their arrival。
The party was to consist of a serjeant and ten men （regulars）； together
with twenty…five irregulars under the charge of my old Cairo dragoman；
Mohammed。
Ali Genninar had the military command in the place of the second vakeel；
Eddrees； who was suffering from chronic dysentery。 I had arranged that
the party should start on the following day。
In the afternoon I had an interview with Kabba Rega in his private
divan； within our garden。 I was suddenly interrupted by Ali Genninar and
a few of his men； who presented themselves in the face of Kabba Rega； to
inform me that they could not start without their guns！
It appeared that on the day that Abd…el…Kader had ordered Kabba Rega to
disarm the people of Suleiman upon his first arrival at Masindi； the
young king had certainly ordered their disarmament； but he had himself
retained their arms and ammunition； in addition to a goatskin bag with
about 300 rounds of ball…cartridge。 This had never been reported to me。
The mendacious young king had the audacity to deny this； in face of
several witnesses； and he would at once have retired from the divan （and
probably I should never have seen him again） had I not insisted upon his
remaining until the affair had been thoroughly explained。
It was then discovered that he had returned all the muskets to
Abd…el…Kader； except five； which were not forthcoming。
I requested him in future to adhere more strictly to the truth； as it
was a disgrace for a man in his position to tell a falsehood； which
would render it impossible for me to place implicit confidence in him；
at the same time I insisted upon the immediate return of the guns；
together with the cartouche…belts and ammunition。
The young king retired in great confusion and stilled anger； with a
promise that everything should be restored！
In the afternoon he sent five wretched old muskets that had been injured
in the stocks； and repaired with the raw hide of crocodiles。 These had
never belonged to the irregulars； but he had kept their good guns； and
hoped to exchange these wretched weapons； which had been given some
years ago to Kamrasi by the vakeel； Ibrahim。
I spoke very strongly to Kittakara； his favourite minister； and
explained to him the folly and discredit of such conduct。
Kittakara replied： 〃Is not Kabba Rega your son？ Do you begrudge him a
few good guns and ammunition taken from your late enemies； the
slave…hunters？〃
It was in vain that I endeavoured to explain that these people were
subjects of the Khedive； and had now received forgiveness： therefore； as
they were engaged as irregulars they must receive their arms。 Kittakara
simply replied： 〃Do you believe in these people？ Do you think that；
because they have now enlisted through fear； they will ever change their
natures？〃
I asked him 〃if soap would wash the black spots from a leopard's skin？〃
but I explained that I could strip the skin at once off the leopard； and
should quickly change their natures。
Day after day passed； and the ammunition was only returned in driblets；
after constant and most urgent demands。
On 21st May I sent word to Kabba Rega （who had declined to appear in
public or private） that if he persisted in this deception I should
myself be compelled to return to Fatiko； as it would be impossible for
me to hold communications with any person in whom I could place no
confidence。
In the event of my departure from Unyoro he knew the consequences。 He
would be ridiculed by Rionga； who would join the slave…hunters and
attack him should I withdraw my protection。 On the south he would be
invaded by M'tese； who would imagine that Kabba Rega had prevented me
from visiting him； thus his country would be utterly ruined。
The chiefs； Neka； Kittakara； and Matonse； to whom I spoke； appeared
thoroughly to comprehend the position。
During the day the five missing guns were returned； together with the
goatskin bag （chorab）； containing much of the missing ammunitionsome
of which had been abstracted。
On 23rd May I sent off the party to Fatiko； together with the
postincluding letters to Egypt； Khartoum； and England； to be forwarded
by first opportunity。 （These never arrived in England。）
I wrote to Wat…el…Mek to offer him the command of an irregular corps of
400 men； which he was to raise immediately from those companies that
were now thrown out of employment by the termination of the contract
with Agad & Co。
I sent written instructions to Major Abdullah to arrest Abou Saood； and
to liberate all the Unyoro slaves in the possession of his people。 He
was then to forward Abou Saood； together with Suleiman； as prisoners； to
the care of Raouf Bey at Gondokoro； and to march himself with his
detachment and all effects； together with the liberated slaves； to
Foweera。
Three hundred natives accompanied my party from Unyoro to transport the
baggage of Major Abdullah。
I had not seen Kabba Rega since the day when he had lied concerning the
possession of the muskets and ammunition。 Whether from shame or anger I
could not tell； but he declined to appear。
The party started with the post； thus reducing my force by the departure
of thirty…six men； including eleven regulars and twenty…five of the new
irregular levy。
I was now left with one hundred regulars； four sailors； and four armed
Baris。
CHAPTER XX。
ESTABLISH COMMERCE。
For some time past the natives had commenced a brisk trade with ivory in
exchange for all kinds of trifles； which left a minimum profit for the
government of 1500 per cent。 A few beads； together with three or four
gaudy…coloured cotton handkerchiefs； a zinc mirror； and a fourpenny
butcher's knife； would purchase a tusk worth twenty or thirty pounds。 I
calculated all the expenses of transport from England； together with
interest on capital。 In some cases we purchased ivory at 2；000 per cent。
profit； and both sellers and buyers felt perfectly contented。
I am not sure whether this is considered a decent return for an
investment of capital among the descendants of Israel； but I am
convinced that at the conclusion of a purchase in Unyoro each party to
the bargain thought that he had the best of it。 This was the perfection
of business。
Here was free trade thoroughly established： the future was tinged with a
golden hue。 Ivory would be almost inexhaustible； as it would flow from
both east and west to the market where such luxuries as twopenny
mirrors； fourpenny knives； handkerchiefs； ear…rings at a penny a pair；
finger signet…rings at a shilling a dozen； could be obtained for such
comparatively useless lumber as elephants' tusks。
Manchester goods would quickly supersede the bark…cloths； which were
worn out in a month； and； in a few years； every native of Unyoro would
be able to appear in durable European clothes。 Every man would be able
to provide himself with a comfortable blanket for the chilly nights； and
an important trade would be opened that would tend to the development of
the country； and be the first step towards a future civilization。
Unfortunately for this golden vision； the young king； Kabba Rega；
considered that he had a right to benefit himself exclusively； by
monopolizing the trade with the government。 He therefore gave orders to
his people that all ivory should be brought to him； and he strictly
prohibited； on pain of death； the free trade that I had endeavoured to
establish。
The tusks ceased to arrive； or； if any individual was sufficiently
audacious to run the risk of detection； he sent word beforehand； by
Monsoor （who was known to be confidential）； that he would bring a tusk
for sale during the darkness of night。
This was a troublesome affair。 Annexation is always a difficult question
of absolute right； but； as I trust my readers will acknowledge； I had
done all that lay in my power for the real benefit of the country。 I had
to make allowance for the young king； who now had become a vassal； and I
determined to observe the extreme of moderation。
It was generally acknowledged that the conduct of the troops was most
exemplary。 No thefts had been allowed； nor even those trifling
annexations of property which are distinguished from stealing by the
innocent name of 〃cribbing。〃 Not a garden had been disturbed； the
tempting tobacco plantations had been rigidly respected； and the natives
could only