tempting tobacco plantations had been rigidly respected； and the natives
could only regard my troops as the perfection of police。 They were
almost as good as London policethere were no areas to the houses；
neither insinuating cooks or housemaids； nor even nursemaids with babies
in perambulators； to distract their attention from their municipal
duties。
Among my troops there was an excellent young man； named Ramadan； who was
the clerk of the detachment。 This intelligent young fellow was a general
favourite among our own men； and also among the natives。 He had a great
aptitude for languages； and he quickly mastered sufficient of the Unyoro
to make himself understood。
I arranged that Ramadan should become the schoolmaster； as it would be
useless to establish commerce as a civilizing medium without in some way
commencing a system of education。
Ramadan was proud at the idea of being selected for this appointment。
There was a son of Kittakara's； of about nine years old； named
Cherri…Merri。 This nice little boy had paid us many visits； and had
become a great favourite of my wife's。 He usually arrived after
breakfast； and was generally to be found sitting on a mat at her feet；
playing with some European toys that were his great delight； and gaining
instruction by conversation through the interpreter。
Although Cherri…Merri was a good boy； he possessed the purely commercial
instinct of Unyoro。 He seldom arrived without a slave attendant； who
carried on his head a package of something that was to be SOLD。
He was told that it was bad taste to bring articles for sale to people
who had shown him kindness； at the same time no presents would be
received。 The little trader quickly relieved himself of this difficulty
by marching off with his slave and package to the soldiers' camp； where
he exchanged his flour or tobacco for metal buttons； which they cut off
their uniforms； or for beads； or other trifles which they possessed。
Cherri…Merri was a general favourite； and he was to form the nucleus for
the commencement of a school。
The station was now in perfect order。 Altogether； including the
soldiers' gardens； about three acres had been cleared and planted。
Everything was well above ground； and was growing with that rapidity
which can only be understood by those who have witnessed the vegetation
of the tropics on the richest soil。
English cucumbers； varieties of melons； pumpkins； tomatoes； Egyptian
radishes； onions； Egyptian cotton； &c。； were all flourishing。 Also a
small quantity of wheat。
Every cottage was surrounded by a garden； the boys had formed
partnerships； and； having been provided with seeds； they had beds of
pumpkins already nearly a foot above the ground。
The girls and women…servants were as usual extremely industrious； they
also had formed little companies； and the merits of the rival gardens
were often warmly discussed。
Three acres of land； thus carefully cultivated； made a very civilized
appearance。 The cucumber plants had grown wonderfully； and had already
formed fruit。 Not a leaf was withered or attacked by insects； and both
the soil and climate of Masindi were perfection for agricultural
experiments。 The thermometer generally stood at 62 degrees F at six
a。m。； and at 78 degrees F at noon。 The air was always fresh and
invigorating； as the altitude above the sea…level was nearly 4；000 feet。
An industrious population would have made a paradise of this country；
but the Unyoro people are the laziest that I have ever seen。 The days
were passed either in sleep； or by the assembly of large crowds of
idlers； who stood at the entrance of the broad； gravelled approach； and
simply watched our proceedings。
The only excitement was produced by the sudden rush of Kabba Rega's
guards （bonosoora） with big sticks among the crowd； whom they belaboured
and chased； generally possessed themselves of the best garments of those
who were captured； with which they returned to their quarters； as lawful
prizes。
This daring system of thieving was considered as great fun by all those
members of the crowd who had escaped； and the unfortunates who had been
reduced to nudity by the loss of their garments were jeered and
ridiculed by the mob with true Unyoro want of charity。
These bonosoora were an extraordinary collection of scoundrels。
The readers of 〃The Albert N'yanza〃 may remember the 〃Satanic Escort；〃
with which I was furnished by Kamrasi for my journey from M'rooli to the
lake； these were bonosoora。 I could never learn the exact number that
formed Kabba Rega's celebrated regiment of blackguards； but I should
imagine there were above 1；000 men who constantly surrounded him； and
gained their living by pillaging others。
Any slave who ran away from his master might find an asylum if he
volunteered to enlist in the bonosoora。 Every man who had committed some
crime； or who could not pay his debts； could find a refuge by devoting
himself to the personal care of the young king； and enrolling within the
ranks of the royal guards。 The general character of these ruffians may
be easily imagined。 They lounged away their time； and simply relieved
the monotony of their existence by robbing passers…by of anything that
attracted their cupidity。
Umbogo belonged to this celebrated corps； and he informed me that hardly
a night passed without some person being murdered by these people； who
would always kill a man after dark； unless he yielded up his property
without resistance。 The great number of vultures that continually
hovered over Masindi were proofs of Umbogo's story； as these birds
generally denote the presence of carrion。 My men had； on several
occasions； found bodies lying in the high grass； neatly picked to the
bone； which had only recently died。
There was much to be done before the brutal customs of Unyoro could be
reformed： and I was by no means satisfied with the conduct exhibited by
Kabba Rega。 He had promised faithfully that he would send a large force
to clear away the high grass by which our station was surrounded； this
was never fulfilled； neither could I engage the natives to work for
hire。
I had observed for some time past that his people were rapidly extending
the town of Masindi； by erecting new buildings upon both our flanks；
which； although only a few yards from our clearing； were half obscured
by the high grass； thus it appeared that we were being gradually
surrounded。
Since the departure of the post with my escort and the irregular levy；
nothing was done by the natives； except the usual lounging by day； and
drinking and howling； with drums and horns as an accompaniment；
throughout the night。
Kabba Rega had always declared that the natives would work for me and
obey every order when the slave…hunters should have been expelled from
the country。 Although the people who were lately a portion of the
slave…hunter's company had now been enlisted in the service of
government； not one man remained in Masindi； as I had sent them all away
to Fatiko； at the particular request of Kabba Rega。
The real fact was； that so long as the slave…trader's people were in the
country； both the king and his people knew that we were independent of
native guides； as Suleiman's men knew all the paths； from their long
experience of the country when engaged in the civil wars。 It was
considered that in the absence of the new levy of irregulars we should
be perfectly helpless to move； as we were dependent upon Kabba Rega for
guides。
From the general conduct of the people since the departure of my party
with the post to Fatiko； I had a strong suspicion that some foul play
was intended； and that； when the 300 native carriers should have taken
the people across the Victoria Nile； they would desert them in the
night； and return with the boats。 I therefore wrote a letter addressed
to the second vakeel； Eddrees； ordering him to return at once to Masindi
with the entire party if he had any suspicion of treachery。
I concealed this note in a packet of blue cloth； together with a few
little presents for Shooli and Gimoro； at Fatiko； but I had written on
the brown paper cover of the parcel； instructions that Eddrees or
Mohammed； the dragoman； should search the contents； as a letter was
hidden within。 I gave this packet to Umbogo； telling him that it was a
present for Shooli； and begging him to despatch a messenger without
delay to overtake the party before they should have crossed the Victoria
Nile。 The native messenger； to whom I gave a small gratuity； immediately
started； thus I should be able to forewarn my people in the event of
trouble。
In the afternoon Kabba Rega sent for me to repair the small musical box
that I had given him； which was slightly deranged。 I replied that； until
he fulfilled his agreement to clear the high grass from the
neighbourhood； I could not think of attending to any request； as he had
broken all his promises。
In half an hour after this answer he sent forty men； under Kittakara； to
commence the clearing； as he was in despair about his musical box。
Two native merchants from the distant country of Karagwe； who had been
sent by their king； Rumanika； to purchase ivory from Unyoro； had arrived
at Masindi。 These people were brought to me on 26th May； accompanied by
Kittakara； together with Umbogo； the interpreter。 I observed that
Kittakara was acting the part of spy； to overhear and to report the
substance of the conversation。 Some excitement had been caused by the
report that two travellers were residing with Rumanika； and that these
people had arrived from the M'wootan N'zige。 I was in hopes that one of
these travellers might be Livingstone。
The Karagwe merchants were well…dressed； and very civilized…looking
people。 They stared upon arrival in the divan； and were shortly seated
upon a mat before me。
After some conversation； I questioned them concerning the travellers；
and I immediately wrote both questions and replies in my journal； which
I now give verbatim。
〃Have you personally seen the travellers？〃
Answer： 〃Yes； one is tall； with a long beard and white hair。 The other
is a very black man （an African）； and short。〃
Question： 〃How do they eat？〃
Answer： 〃With a k