I was almost convinced that we were again subjected to the foulest
treachery, and I was extremely anxious about Ramadan and Hafiz. I could
hardly believe it possible that these poor men, unarmed, and carrying a
valuable present, would be cruelly murdered.
The day passed in hope and expectation of their return. Late in the
evening, the act of incendiarism of the preceding night was renewed, and
the deserted house of Colonel Abd-el-Kader was in a bright blaze without
a native being visible.
No yells were heard, nor any other sound. The troops turned out with
their usual quiet discipline, but not a shot was fired.
The 13th June arrived. - Still there were no tidings of either Umbogo,
Ramadan, or Hafiz. I now felt convinced that the young villain, Kabba
Rega, had played me false, and that he was only gaining time to collect
and organize the whole force of Unyoro to attack us, and to line the
path to the river with ambuscades.
It is impossible to this day to say whether Umbogo was true or false. I
never saw him again; and the unfortunate Ramadan and Hafiz were wantonly
murdered.
At about 10 A.M., 13th June, we were let into the secret of Kabba Rega's
villainy. A sudden rush of natives was made upon the cattle, which were
grazing within sixty yards of the fort! Poisoned arrows were shot, and a
general attack was made upon the station. Guns fired; the bullets
whistled over our heads, and I thought I recognized the crack of our
lost sniders (those of Monsoor and Ferritch), that were employed against
us.
The curtain had now risen. When the actual fighting arrived, there was
some little relaxation from the intense anxiety of mind that I had
suffered for some days.
I at once ordered the men into line, and the bugles and drums sounded
the charge with the bayonet.
The gallant "Forty Thieves" led the way, with drums beating and a hearty
cheer, and dashed through the ruins of the town and straight into the
high grass on the other side, from which the cowardly enemy fled like
hares.
On our return to the station, I at once ordered Colonel Abd-el-Kader to
take eighty men and some blue lights, and to destroy every village in
the neighbourhood. The attack was made on the instant. The large
village, about 700 yards distant, which I had raked with the fire of a
few sniders, while Abd-el-Kader descended the slope to the attack, was
soon a mass of rolling flames. In an hour's time volumes of smoke were
rising in various directions.
My active and gallant colonel returned, having driven the enemy from
every position, and utterly destroyed the neighbourhood.
I had made up my mind. There could be no longer any doubt of the
diabolical treachery of Kabba Rega. He had only endeavoured to gain time
by specious assurances of good-will, combined with presents, in order to
organize the whole country against us. The natives who shot arrows must
have come from Magungo, as none of the other districts were armed with
bows. The arrows that had been shot at us, which my men had collected,
were thickly poisoned with a hard gummy matter.
It was now rendered certain that a snare had been laid for the massacre
of Major Abdullah's party.
Kabba Rega had no doubt ordered the various routes towards Rionga's
province to be ambuscaded.
I determined at once to push straight for the camp at Foweera on the
Victoria Nile, as Rionga's island was about fifteen miles from that
point.
Among the men of the "Forty Thieves", there was a soldier named
Abdullah, who had an extraordinary instinct for finding his way. This
man never forgot a path if he had ever travelled upon the same route.
I also depended upon my Baris and Molodi; although they had not long
experience of the path by which we had arrived from Foweera with the
cattle, they were clever as guides.
Unfortunately, the country had changed terribly by the immense growth of
the grass and tangled creepers.
I felt sure that the route would be occupied by the enemy throughout the
whole distance, and that we should have to fight every mile of the path
at a grave disadvantage.
The question of a supply of food was vital. The men had mostly
exhausted their provisions.
At this critical moment, when every man of the expedition felt the fatal
truth, my wife confided her secret, that she had hitherto concealed,
lest the knowledge of a hidden store should have made the men
extravagant. She now informed them that in past days of plenty, when
flour had been abundant, she had, from time to time, secreted a
quantity, and she had now SIX LARGE IRON BOXES FULL (about twelve
bushels). This private store she had laid by in the event of some sudden
emergency.
"God shall give her a long life!" exclaimed both officers and men. We
had now enough flour for the march of seven days to Foweera, at which
place there were regular forests of plantains.
My herd of cattle had been reduced to seventy, and I much doubted the
possibility of driving them in a high grass country, as they would
scatter and make a stampede should we be attacked; they would be scared
by the guns.
I mustered my force and spoke to my men, to whom I explained their exact
position, and my plan of action.
I should immediately divide among them, as presents, all the cotton
stuffs that belonged to the expedition.
Each man would carry three pounds of beads in his knapsack, one-third of
which should subsequently belong to him.
The line of march would be thus arranged - a Bari, who professed to know
the path, would lead the advance-guard of fifteen sniders, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Abd-el-Kader, supported by myself with ten sniders in
charge of the ammunition, accompanied by Lieutenant Baker, my wife, and
two servants, carrying double breechloading elephant rifles.
