- Quonga and many other sheiks arrived, and were quite
delighted with the wheel of life.
"The natives are selling sweet potatoes and tobacco for beads, but flour
is brought in very small quantities.
"March 27. - Provisions are coming in so slowly that we shall be short
of food. Upon the arrival of Quonga and his sheiks, I make a hot
complaint; he coldly told me that it would be better if the soldiers
were to forage for themselves.
"I explained to him the rigid discipline that I enforced, and that,
should I once permit thieving, the troops' character would be entirely
ruined, and they would pillage throughout the route.
"He replied that this neighbourhood was in a state of anarchy; that many
of the inhabitants were hostile to Kabba Rega, and they would not obey
his orders.
"I told him that my troops were lambs if well fed, but they were like
lions if hungry, and to prove their number I would summon them before
him.
"The bugle sounded the 'taboor,' and upwards of 100 men immediately fell
in with bayonets fixed, to the no small dismay of Quonga and his sheiks,
who began to look very uneasy at the scarlet uniforms. By a coup de
theatre, I marched the men, with bugles and drums playing, round the
numerous huts, so that they reappeared twice before the tent, and thus
doubled their real number.
"At the halt and dismissal, they shouted their usual wild cry in
Turkish, in honour of their commander.
"'Do you understand what they say?' I asked Quonga. To his negative
reply, I answered, 'They say they will eat from the country if
provisions are not supplied to-morrow!'
"Quonga and his sheiks started off immediately to give the necessary
orders.
"Upon his return I told him 'to advise Kabba Rega to behave in a
different manner to the conduct of his father, the late Kamrasi. I had
returned to this country to bestow prosperity upon the land; that if
Kabba Rega meant fair dealing and legitimate trade, he must act
honourably and sincerely; if I should find any signs of unfairness, I
should pass on direct to Uganda, the Country of M'tese, and he would
receive the goods I had intended for Unyoro.'
"Negroes are great deceivers, especially the natives of Unyoro. I have
beads, cattle, merchandise, and every article necessary to purchase
flour and potatoes: nevertheless, our wants are not supplied. The cattle
are dying, as the change of herbage does not agree with them; this is a
sad loss. (One of the African difficulties consists in the mortality
of the cattle when changing districts.)
"March 28. - The great sheik, Lokara, who is the commander-in-chief of
Kabba Rega's forces, arrived. This man has left a large army on the
banks of the Nile, a few hours' march up stream, ready to attack Rionga,
who is settled, with his people, on an island in the river. Of course he
is come to request military aid. This is the old story. Upon my last
visit I was bored almost to death by Kamrasi, with requests that I would
assist him to attack Rionga. I have only been here for a few days when I
am troubled with the old tune.
"March 29. - Provisions are very scarce; the people have been fighting
for so many years that cultivation has been much neglected, and the
natives live principally upon plantains.
"I gave Suleiman, the vakeel, five cows yesterday. He declares that Abou
Saood told him that my term of service with the Egyptian government had
expired, therefore the entire country was now in his hands. This liar,
Abou Saood, will some day reap the fruits of his treachery.
"I ordered the government flag to be hoisted in Suleiman's camp, and the
vakeel, Suleiman, called upon all those who were willing to enlist in
the service of the Khedive to assemble beneath the ensign. Sixty-one men
registered their names.
"The only difficulty is the rate of wages. I offer the privates sixty
piastres (the piastre equals twopence-halfpenny) per month, i.e.,
thirty piastres as equal pay to that of the regulars, and thirty
piastres in lieu of clothes. Formerly these brigands nominally received
fifty and fifty-five piastres, in addition to one third of all cattle
that might be captured in razzias.
"Should I be able to establish a small irregular corps as a
commencement, the expense would be considerable in proportion to the
actual proceeds in ivory. The position is difficult.
"A radical change throughout the country is absolutely necessary. The
companies have hitherto purchased ivory with slaves and cattle; thus all
countries in which this custom has been established, must be abandoned
until the natives will sell ivory in exchange for goods.
"The expenses will continue, or perhaps augment, while the ivory produce
must decrease for the first twelve months, or until the people will
understand and accept the reform.
"Without an irregular force it will be impossible to hold the country,
and at the same time to carry on the work of government. The force that
I originally proposed, of 1,650, is absolutely required to occupy a
chain of stations from Gondokoro.
"March 30. - The cows are dying in great numbers, and the natives are
bringing large quantities of potatoes in exchange for the flesh, but
there is no corn in the country.
"The days and nights are now cloudy and showery.
"Lokara and Quonga came this morning, but no messenger has yet arrived
from Kabba Rega.
"I gave Lokara a blue shirt, a long red sash, and a crimson fez, to his
great delight. The chiefs were much struck with the present intended for
Kabba Rega; this consisted of three rows of roman pearls as large as
marbles, with a gilt shield, and onyx-pendant tied up with green satin
ribbon.
