These spies
immediately ran off to their master with the report that I had forgiven
the slave-hunters who were lately prisoners, and that I had actually
made them presents of beads. (At that time I had not the slightest
idea that the liberation of the prisoners would excite suspicion in the
minds of Kabba Rega and his people, but there can be no doubt that this
act of clemency on my part destroyed the confidence which had previously
existed.)
This report was quickly confirmed, as the new and dirty members of the
irregular corps, who were now at liberty, presented themselves in the
town with their hands full of beads to purchase the necessary
bark-cloths. These cloths are prepared from the bark of a species of
fig-tree in a very simple manner, which I have personally witnessed.
A piece of bark about six feet long, and as wide as possible, is
detached from the trunk of the tree. The outside rind is pared off by a
lance-head used with two hands, like a cooper's drawing-knife. The bark
is then laid upon a beam of wood on the ground, on which it is hammered
with a mallet grooved in fine cuts, so that the repeated blows stamp the
bark with lines somewhat resembling corduroy. This hammering expands the
bark, which is repeatedly turned and hammered again, until at length it
is beaten into a cloth of rather fine texture. The action of the air
colours the material, which, although white when first stripped from the
tree, quickly assumes a delicate shade of brown, as a slice of an apple
oxydizes upon exposure in our own climate.
The finest cloths are ornamented with patterns in black. These are
simply produced by drawing the design with water from iron springs,
which combining with the tannin of the bark immediately stains it.
The sheets of bark-cloth are frequently dyed this colour by immersing
them for a short time in springs of the same water.
The finest cloths are produced in Uganda, and all that are used for
royal wear are brought from that country in exchange for ivory.
My new men, the late slave-hunters, who I hoped were "wicked men that
had turned away from their wickedness," had succeeded in purchasing a
quantity of new cloths ready for the day of annexation.
That night, at about nine o'clock, just before we were going to bed, we
had remarked an extraordinary stillness in the town of Masindi. There
was not a whisper to be heard throughout the capital, where generally
the night was passed in the uproar of drunken singing and blowing of
horns.
Suddenly this extraordinary silence was broken by the deep notes of a
nogara or drum. This sounded for a second or two, and ceased. Again all
was still as death.
A sudden burst of hellish noise, such as I have never heard before or
since, now startled every soldier to his feet, and without orders, every
man armed and fell into position!
Colonel Abd-el-Kader, with his sword belted on and a rifle in his hand,
came to me for orders on the instant. The ever-ready Monsoor was armed
and by my side.
In the mean time the din of very many thousands continued, yelling and
shrieking as though maniacs; I should imagine that at least a thousand
drums were beating, innumerable horns were blowing, with whistles,
fifes, and every instrument that would add to the horrible uproar.
At the same time not a human being was visible.
Mohammed, the dragoman, appeared, together with Umbogo. In reply to my
question as to the cause of such a sudden irruption of noise, Umbogo
laughed, and said it was "TO MAKE ME AFRAID, and to exhibit the great
numbers of people that were collected at Masindi."
This was all. I therefore at once ordered the band to play, as I
determined to accept the carefully planned surprise as a compliment that
I would return.
The band struck up, the cymbals clashed, the big drum thundered, and the
buglers blew their loudest, while the regimental drums rattled away as
hard as the sticks could roll upon the skins.
In a short time the noise of the town ceased, and the only sound was
occasioned by our own band.
I ordered them to cease playing. Once more there was perfect stillness.
I ordered the sentries to keep a sharp look-out, and we all went to bed.
This was a practical joke that did not please me, as it smacked of
distrust and defiance. It took place on the same day upon which I had
liberated the slave-hunter's people, and engaged them as irregular
troops.
On the following morning I sent several messengers to Kabba Rega to beg
him to pay me a visit. They all returned, some saying that he was
asleep - others, that he was drunk. It was the usual habit of this young
man to get very drunk every night, and to sleep until about 2 p.m., when
he dressed and attended at his public divan.
I now heard that native messengers had arrived from the country of
Faieera, which formed one of the districts within nine miles of Fatiko,
under the charge of the great sheik, Rot Jarma, who had sworn allegiance
to the government, and was under the protection of Major Abdullah.
These messengers had brought some guns and ammunition to sell to Kabba
Rega. They wished particularly to see me, as they had important news.
When they appeared in the divan, I at once recognized them as people
that I had seen at Fatiko.
They informed me that since my departure, Abou Saood and his people had
ridiculed the authority of my commandant, Major Abdullah; and to prove
to the natives how powerless he was to protect them, Abou Saood had sent
his men to attack Rot Jarma, and they had carried off his cattle and
slaves.
