1 deg. 45 min., and is seventy-nine miles, by
our route, from the river at Foweera. We are thus 322 miles by route
from Ismailia (Gondokoro).
"April 26.-I visited Kabba Rega officially, with the officers and troops
in full uniform, and the band playing.
"I found him sitting in his divan; this was a large neatly-constructed
hut, ornamented with some very common printed cotton cloths, which had
arrived via Zanzibar. Kabba Rega was very well clad, in beautifully made
bark-cloth striped with black; he was excessively neat, and appeared to
be about twenty years of age. He gave me the same account of the
atrocious proceedings of Abou Saood's companies that I had already
received from his chiefs, and he expressed his delight at my arrival,
and that I had captured Suleiman and some of his people.
"I explained the intentions of the Khedive of Egypt, at the same time I
lamented the terrible change that had occurred throughout his country
since my former visit. I assured him that the future would be
prosperous, and that, under the protection of Egypt, he would never have
further cause for alarm. I then summoned the prisoners that had been
captured and disarmed by Colonel Abd-el-Kader; and having explained the
charges against them, they were publicly flogged in the presence of a
multitude of Kabba Rega's people, while Suleiman and Eddrees were led
away in shebas, to the astonishment and delight of all beholders.
"The slaves that had been discovered in the possession of Suleiman's
people were now brought forward, and having been identified by Kabba
Rega and his people as belonging to Unyoro, they were at once released,
and I returned both young girls and boys to their country. One woman did
not wish to leave the traders, as she had been married to one of the
company for some years, and had several children.
"I explained that they were actually FREE - to remain with their captors,
or to return to their homes, as they thought proper.
"This was a good opportunity for assuring both Kabba Rega and this
people that I should restore all the slaves that had been carried out of
their country to the various stations of Abou Saood at Fatiko, Fabbo,
Faloro, &c.
"I described to the young king and his chiefs that I was determined to
suppress the slave trade, and that I had hitherto forborne to interfere
in the release of the slaves at the various stations, as it would have
been impossible to have returned them to their distant homes, neither
could I have supplied them with food. I was now at Masindi, beyond the
farthest station of Abou Saood, and I should certainly insist upon the
return of every slave that had been kidnapped from this country. This
would at once prove to the inhabitants of Unyoro the benefit of the
Khedive's protection. (The subsequent attack made by the slave-traders
upon the government troops and myself at Fatiko was due to this
declaration that all slaves should be taken away from their captors and
returned to their homes. It will be seen later that I sent orders to the
commandant of my station at Fatiko to release all slaves, and this
command was resisted by Abou Saood and his people.)
"April 27.-Kabba Rega had arranged to return my visit.
"I had ordered a broad roadway to be cleared from Kabba Rega's divan to
my tent, which was pitched beneath an enormous fig-tree or banian (Ficus
Indica). The troops were lined on either side of this approach in their
best uniforms.
"The band was stationed near the tent, which was spread with skins and
small carpets, all the sides being open.
"An hour and a half passed away after the first messenger had arrived
from Kabba Rega to announce his visit. One after another, messengers had
hurried to assure me that the king was just now approaching; but still
the troops remained in expectation, and no king made an appearance.
"At length, after this long delay, he sent Rahonka to say that 'if it
was all the same to me, he would rather see me at his own house.'
"This unmannerly young cub was actually suspicious of foul play, and was
afraid to enter my tent!
"I immediately told Rahonka that his king was evidently not old enough
to have learnt good manners, therefore I should at once dismiss the
troops, who had already been waiting for nearly two hours to do him
honour.
"I ordered the bugler to sound the 'destoor,' and the troops at once
obeyed the signal.
"Terrified at the sound of the bugle, which was known to be some
mysterious order, Rahonka implored me not to be angry, and he would at
once bring Kabba Rega to the tent. The troops resumed their position.
"In a few minutes a great din of horns, drums, and whistles announced
his approach, and we observed him walking down the road with an
extraordinary gait. He was taking enormous strides, as though
caricaturing the walk of a giraffe. This was supposed to be an imitation
of M'tese, the king of Uganda, whose ridiculous attempt to walk like a
lion has been described by Speke.
"Kabba Rega thus stalked along, followed by his great chiefs, Kittakara,
Matonse, Rahonka, Quonga, and a number of others. Upon arrival opposite
the band, the bugles and drums suddenly commenced with such a clash of
cymbals that he seemed rather startled, and he entered the tent in the
most undignified manner, with an air of extreme shyness half concealed
by audacity.
"He was trembling with nervous anxiety, and with some hesitation he took
his seat upon the divan that had been prepared for him. His principal
chiefs sat upon skins and carpets arranged upon the ground.
