"The man was led away under a guard and was secured in the zareeba.
Suleiman acknowledged that he was in an inexcusable rage, but that I had
been just in my decision, and he would keep the prisoner in safe custody
until further orders. Suleiman was to accompany me on the journey to
Masindi on the following morning, as Rahonka had collected the native
carriers.
"That evening, after a heavy shower, we witnessed one of those
remarkable appearances of the winged white ants that issued from a mound
within a few yards of our tent. Millions of these large fat insects
struggled into their ephemeral flight, and were quickly caught by our
people with lighted wisps of straw. The ant disengages its wings a few
minutes after its appearance from the parent mound.
"The exodus from the ant-hill takes place annually at the commencement
of the rainy season, and the collection of the insects is considered to
be an important harvest throughout all Central Africa. The white ant, in
this stage of its existence, is esteemed as a great delicacy when fried
in a little butter.
"We tasted a considerable number, and found them tolerably good, but
with a slight flavour of burnt feathers.
"On April 11 we were ready to start, but at the last moment the vakeel,
Suleiman, who was to accompany us, excused himself until the next day,
as he had some important business to transact with his people. I
accordingly gave him permission to remain, but I ordered him to follow
me quickly, as it would be necessary to present him to Kabba Rega in his
new position as vakeel of the government." . . . .
It will now be necessary to explain the true position of affairs, which
at that time I did not suspect.
Upon my first arrival at the river, when I had explained my views to
Suleiman, he had immediately despatched a letter to Abou Saood at
Fatiko. His party had travelled fast, and they returned with an answer.
I could never discover the actual contents of the letter in reply, but I
heard that it cautioned Suleiman not to part with the slaves, and to
join Abou Saood with his ivory and all his people at the station of
Fabbo, a day's march west of Fatiko.
Suleiman was in an awkward position. He had always held a high place in
the eyes of Kabba Rega and his chiefs, and his alliance had been courted
and obtained for a combined attach upon the old enemy, Rionga. The army
of Kabba Rega had been waiting at the rendezvous in expectation of
Suleiman's assistance. A fleet of large canoes had been concentrated at
a given point for the invasion of the island; and Kabba Rega and his
sheiks considered that at length their old enemy was in the snare.
My unexpected arrival had ruined the project, as I strictly forbade
Suleiman to attack Rionga.
This disappointed Kabba Rega and his people, who could not understand
how I could be the friend of his late father Kamrasi, and at the same
time protect his enemy Rionga.
The attack on the island was a dangerous adventure, as it was surrounded
by dense masses of papyrus rush that would prevent canoes from landing,
except at certain places were narrow passages had been cleared. A few
men concealed among the papyrus could massacre an attacking party at
discretion, as they struggled through the narrow entrance in canoes. It
had been proposed that Suleiman's people were to attack in boats and
clear out the enemy by a sharp fire into the papyrus to cover the
general advance.
Suleiman was in a dilemma, as he had already promised alliance, and had
received a quantity of ivory in payment for his services. He had
accordingly made the following secret arrangement with Rahonka and
Lokara: - "Let the Pacha and his soldiers start for Masindi, and he will
suppose that Suleiman will follow on the morrow; instead of which, he
will at once join Kabba Rega's forces, and attack Rionga, when the Pacha
shall be several days' journey distant from the river."
On his return to Foweera from a successful invasion of Rionga's island,
the commanders of the forces, Lokara and Rahonka, were at once to
furnish carriers to transport Suleiman with all his people and ivory to
the Fabbo station, according to the instructions received from Abou
Saood.
I should thus be deceived, and be left at Masindi, 160 miles distant
from my detachment at Fatiko, without the power of communication.
At 8.30 A.M. we were in the saddle, and started from Foweera. Suleiman
came to kiss my hand at my departure. We rode at once into the low
forest, and as the last man of our party disappeared from view, Suleiman
returned to his zareeba. He then prepared for vengeance, which through
my presence had long been delayed.
He and his ferocious people dragged the prisoner (whose life I had
protected) from the camp, until they arrived at a thick grove of
plantains about 200 paces from the station. Rahonka, Lokara, Quonga,
Matonse, and other principal chiefs, were summoned to witness the
impotence of the Pacha's power to save; and to see with their own eyes
the defiance that Suleiman would exhibit to the orders of a Christian.
"Now let the natives clasp the knees of the Pacha and defy the power of
Suleiman!"
The ruffian drew his sabre, and with his own hand, in the presence of a
crowd of witnesses, he hacked off the head of the unfortunate prisoner,
and thus publicly ridiculed my authority.
In the mean time, while this murder was being committed, we were
travelling onward without a suspicion of treachery.
