desired。
No one knew how to wind it up； and it was necessary that some person
should accompany it with the native messengers。
The clerk of the detachment； Ramadan； who has already been mentioned as
a favourite with the natives； and a good linguist； at once volunteered
to be the bearer of the present。 Since the battle of Masindi； Ramadan
had been in frequent personal communication with the natives； and he
assured me that there was a general desire for peaceful relations。 He
was supposed to be a favourite of Kabba Rega's； and it was therefore
arranged that he should accompany the musical box； which was a good load
for a fast…travelling native。
Hafiz； the farrier； whose occupation was nearly gone by the death of all
the horses but two； volunteered to accompany Ramadan。 I ordered them to
go unarmed； as their peaceful mission would be at once understood； this
fact would establish confidence among the natives。
It was about 3 P。M。 when they started； and we watched their arrival in
the village with the telescope； where they appeared to be well received。
In the evening they both returned with the musical box； accompanied by
the sheik who was to be their guide； as Kabba Rega had retired to a town
at which he had a residence； about half a day's march distant。 It was
arranged that they should start on the following morning。
On the 11th June； Ramadan and Hafiz； together with the musical box；
started； and we watched their reception at the village with the
telescope。 I had released Umbogo； whom I had sent to Kabba Rega to
explain all that he had seen of the outbreak； as he was one of those
that had been poisoned by the plaintain cider。 Umbogo promised to return
as soon as possible。 The dragoman； Abou Kooka； remained with us in the
place of Umbogo。 This was a sullen…looking brute who had been a slave
stolen from the Madi tribe。
I must now take an extract verbatim from my journal； that was written on
the day of the incident。 Any warm expressions in this extract must be
excused as a natural consequence； for which I trust due allowance will
be granted：
〃I walked round the burnt town of Masindi； accompanied by Julian
（Lieutenant Baker）； Abd…el…Kader； and two guards of 'The Forty。' Neither
Abd…el…Kader nor I carried guns； as I wished to establish confidence
among the natives who were searching among the ashes for molotes。
〃I sent for the dragoman； Abou Kooka； and conversed with the natives；
assuring them of peace； and that I had no ill…will against Kabba Rega；
if Matonse was the cause of the outbreak。 At the same time； I told them
to bring provisions for sale。
〃They seemed very shy； and replied that 'all would be right when the
messengers should arrive from Kabba Rega。 One by one they went away；
until only two were left。 Julian gave his gun to one of the guards。
〃The two natives were standing on the edge of the high grass； close to
the ashes of the town； and they appeared more confident； as they
conversed with us at about twelve yards' distance。
〃Presently they said they would come close to us； were it not for their
fear of the two sentries with their rifles； who were about forty yards
in our rear。
〃I turned round to order the sentries to retire a little。 The instant
that my back was turned； one of the treacherous brutes hurled his spear
at me； which struck quivering in the earth at my feet！ At the same
moment they bolted into the high grass； accompanied by our dragoman；
Abou Kooka； and disappeared at once like fish in water！
〃The treachery of the negro is beyond belief； he has not a moral human
instinct； and is below the brute。 How is it possible to improve such
abject animals？ They are not worth the trouble； and they are only fit
for slaves； to which position their race appears to have been condemned。
〃I believe I have wasted my time and energy； and have uselessly
encountered difficulties； and made enemies by my attempt to suppress the
slave trade； and thus improve the condition of the natives。
〃It is now 4。40 P。M。； and I am anxious about Ramadan and Hafiz； who have
not returned。
〃My men have been on half rations since the 8th inst。； and we have
supplies only for to…morrow； after which we shall be obliged to forage；
unless Kabba Rega sends the promised provisions。 〃It is impossible to
believe one word in this accursed country。 At the same time that Kabba
Rega declares peace and good…will； he may be planning a surprise。 I do
not think； however； that his people will be in a hurry to fight after
the lesson they received on the 8th inst。
〃Nevertheless； fighting is dangerous work in this country of high grass；
where troops cannot see to manoeuvre； and where the ground is everywhere
favourable for native ambuscades。〃
When I returned to the divan with the spear that had so narrowly missed
me； through the cowardice of the assailant （who should have made sure of
me； had he not been nervous）； my wife was not cheered by the little
incident。 She had had the same experience as myself in African natures；
and she immediately declared against the pretended sincerity of Kabba
Rega。
I had serious misgivings。 Nothing can happen in Unyoro without the
order of the king。 The superstitious veneration for the possessor of the
magic throne produces a profound obedience。
On the other hand； this attempt at murder might have been only the
revenge of an individual who had perhaps lost his house and property in
the conflagration of Masindi。
The evening arrived without tidings of either Ramadan or Umbogo。 I was
now without an interpreter。
The troops； and their wives and effects； occupied the fort； and the
officers' quarters and camp had been abandoned。
It was about 8 P。M。； and dinner being over； I was smoking my pipe in the
divan； conversing with my wife and Lieutenant Baker upon the situation
of affairs； when a sudden bright glare attracted my attention。
An officer immediately reported that the abandoned quarters were in a
blaze of fire！
I was of course ready in an instant； and armed； and accompanied by my
wife and Mr。 Baker； I really enjoyed the beauty of the scene in that
moment of anxiety。
Without the slightest noise； or even an audible whisper； the troops were
all in position； kneeling on the ground in open order around the fort
and the divan； keeping the most vigilant watch for the appearance of an
enemy。 The flames from the camp rose about seventy feet high。 There was
not a breath of air； thus the fire danced and leapt up to its extreme
height； and illumined the neighbourhood for a great distance。
Not an enemy was to be seen。 The soldiers were like statues； and there
was no sound except the roaring of flames。
Suddenly loud yells broke out from a distance of about 200 yards from
the farthest side of the fort； as though from a considerable body of
men。 Not a soldier stirred or spoke。
I had cleared the grass around the fort and station； therefore it was
impossible to approach us unobserved。
The natives must have crept up stealthily； and fired the abandoned camp
in the expectation that the troops would have rushed down to extinguish
the flames； and thus the fort and the divan would have been at the mercy
of an attack from the dark side。
I immediately sent a strong patrol around the station； but not a soul
was visible。 The attempt had failed。
Once more the luggage； with beds； boxes； &c。； was transported from the
divan to the fort。
The night passed quietly。 On 12th June； I watched the natives with the
telescope； and I observed that many of the crowd were gesticulating in
an excited manner。
I was almost convinced that we were again subjected to the foulest
treachery； and I was extremely anxious about Ramadan and Hafiz。 I could
hardly believe it possible that these poor men； unarmed； and carrying a
valuable present； would be cruelly murdered。
The day passed in hope and expectation of their return。 Late in the
evening； the act of incendiarism of the preceding night was renewed； and
the deserted house of Colonel Abd…el…Kader was in a bright blaze without
a native being visible。
No yells were heard； nor any other sound。 The troops turned out with
their usual quiet discipline； but not a shot was fired。
The 13th June arrived。Still there were no tidings of either Umbogo；
Ramadan； or Hafiz。 I now felt convinced that the young villain； Kabba
Rega； had played me false； and that he was only gaining time to collect
and organize the whole force of Unyoro to attack us； and to line the
path to the river with ambuscades。
It is impossible to this day to say whether Umbogo was true or false。 I
never saw him again； and the unfortunate Ramadan and Hafiz were wantonly
murdered。
At about 10 A。M。； 13th June； we were let into the secret of Kabba Rega's
villainy。 A sudden rush of natives was made upon the cattle； which were
grazing within sixty yards of the fort！ Poisoned arrows were shot； and a
general attack was made upon the station。 Guns fired； the bullets
whistled over our heads； and I thought I recognized the crack of our
lost sniders （those of Monsoor and Ferritch）； that were employed against
us。
The curtain had now risen。 When the actual fighting arrived； there was
some little relaxation from the intense anxiety of mind that I had
suffered for some days。
I at once ordered the men into line； and the bugles and drums sounded
the charge with the bayonet。
The gallant 〃Forty Thieves〃 led the way； with drums beating and a hearty
cheer； and dashed through the ruins of the town and straight into the
high grass on the other side； from which the cowardly enemy fled like
hares。
On our return to the station； I at once ordered Colonel Abd…el…Kader to
take eighty men and some blue lights； and to destroy every village in
the neighbourhood。 The attack was made on the instant。 The large
village； about 700 yards distant； which I had raked with the fire of a
few sniders； while Abd…el…Kader descended the slope to the attack； was
soon a mass of rolling flames。 In an hour's time volumes of smoke were
rising in various directions。
My active and gallant colonel returned； having driven the enemy from
every position； and utterly destroyed the neighbourhood。
I had made up my mi