At the same time we never had two days' provisions in store, and we were
simply living from hand to month. This looked suspicious, as though the
troops were to be rendered helpless by the absence of supplies in the
event of hostilities.
My few Baris consisted of my good interpreter Morgian, together with
three other natives, who had been for some years in the employ of
Suleiman. I had kept these people with me, as they knew something about
the country and the Unyoros. They were all armed and were tolerably good
shots. One of these fellows (Molodi), a native of the Madi country, was
extremely useful and intelligent. He now told me that I could never
depend upon Kabba Rega, and that he had simply begged me to send the
irregulars out of the country in order that I should not hear the truth
of his former conduct from them; also, in their absence, I should be
quite ignorant of the paths that were now completely overgrown with
immensely high grass throughout the country.
An incident occurred on the 31st May which caused me serious anxiety.
The station was in complete order: the cultivation was thriving, and the
general appearance of the government settlement was a strong contrast to
the surrounding wilderness of high grass, and the large and dirty town
of Masindi.
My troops were now without occupation, therefore I instructed Colonel
Abd-el-Kader to drill them every morning.
It had been the daily practice of the band to march up and down the
broad approach, and to perform nearly opposite Kabba Rega's public
divan.
There was no clear place in which the troops could be drilled, except in
the public square at the back of Kabba Rega's divan; this was about the
centre of the town.
The square was an open space of about two acres, and was the spot at
which all public festivities were held, and where, upon many occasions,
Kabba Rega delighted to sit, in a large open shed, to witness the absurd
performance of his buffoons.
This open space was well adapted for the exercise of a company of
troops. I therefore ordered the men on parade, and I accompanied them
myself together with Lieutenant Baker.
The band played, as usual, at the head of the company, and we marched
through the town to the open square.
Here the troops were put through their musketry drill, and commenced
various evolutions.
To my astonishment, I saw the natives hurrying off in all directions. I
was perfectly unarmed, as were also the officers (excepting their side
arms) and Lieutenant Baker.
Almost immediately the huge war-drum sounded in the house of Kabba Rega,
and the dull hollow notes continued to beat the alarm!
In less than ten minutes, horns were blowing and drums were beating in
all directions, and with extraordinary rapidity, some five or six
thousand men came pouring down from every quarter, fully armed with
spears and shields, in a state of frantic excitement, and at once
surrounded the troops. Fresh bands of natives, all of whom were in their
costume of war, continued to concentrate from every side. The crowd of
warriors leapt and gesticulated around my little company of men as
though about to attack.
I immediately gave the order to form a square with fixed bayonets. This
manoeuvre puzzled the natives extremely.
They danced around the square, within a few feet of the glistening row
of bayonet-points, which were lowered so as to form an impenetrable
fence.
The officers were of course inside the square. I gave the men strict
orders not to fire under any provocation, unless I gave the word of
command, and attended by Lieutenant Baker and Monsoor, the latter with
his sword drawn, I left the square, and walked into the middle of the
crowd, towards the three chiefs, Rahonka, Kittakara, and Matonse, who
were all standing with lances in their hands, and apparently prepared
for action.
Although the situation was full of meaning, I thought the best policy
was to appear amused. At this moment Monsoor struck up with his sword, a
lance, which one of the frantic warriors, in the midst of his wild
gesticulations, had advanced within a few inches of my back.
The interpreters (many of whom I knew well) were all armed with muskets,
and the bonosoora were dressed in their usual fantastic manner when
prepared for war; a considerable number were provided with guns.
The slightest accident would have caused a general outbreak of
hostilities. I had eighty men on the ground; the remainder of the force
were at the station, about three hundred yards distant, where Lady
Baker, and all stores and ammunition, would have been in extreme danger,
had an attack become general.
I at once walked up to Rahonka and Kittakara, and calling an
interpreter, named Kadji-Barri, who was standing near them, dressed in
Arab clothes, with his musket in his hand, and his cartouche-belt on his
waist, I burst out laughing, and exclaimed: "Well done, Kadji-Barri!
this is famously managed; let us have a general dance. Ash Kitiakitri if
my band shall play, or will you dance to your own music?"
This was immediately translated to the chiefs, and my demeanour seemed
to cause some hesitation. I at once ordered our band to strike up.
The instant that a well-known lively air commenced, I begged them to
exhibit some native dance to amuse us. Seeing their hesitation, I
inquired whether they would wish to see my men perform? After a few
words between Kittakara and Rahonka, the former agreed that it would be
better for my men to commence the dance first.
I lost no time in explaining to Kittakara. At that he must at once
address the crowd and assure them that the performance about to commence
was intended for their amusement, and there was no cause for fear.
