At length, after ninety-three days' absence, news was brought that
Wat-el-Mek and the troops were close at hand. Shooli had arrived at
daybreak to say that a native had seen them on the previous evening on
the north side of Shooa hill, about seven miles from Fatiko.
At 2.30 P.M., on 8th March, we distinguished the white uniforms
ascending the plateau at the north end of the Fatiko plain; and shortly
after, the main body emerged from among the rocks and foliage, and
formed on the level ground. I at once distinguished with the telescope
the lieutenant-colonel, Tayib Agha, upon his well-known powerful white
horse.
My troops in full uniform went out to meet the reinforcements, which
quickly marched up and formed on the level turf outside the fort upon
the north side.
I rode out and inspected the troops.
NOT ONE HEAD OF CATTLE HAD ARRIVED!
The lieutenant-colonel, Tayib Agha, had made a sad mess of his command
during the march. He had quarrelled with Wat-el-Mek; and simply because
some of the native carriers had absconded in a portion of the Bari
country named Moogi, he had set fire to the villages in revenge! This
was in a country, where I had established peace.
The Baris had attacked the troops, and had not only killed twenty-eight
of our men, but had stripped the bodies, and possessed themselves of
clothes, arms, and ammunition. They had also captured the cattle.
Although Tayib Agha had about 280 men, he actually retreated and dared
not attack the natives to recover either the bodies of his men or their
muskets! (The lieutenant who commanded the unfortunate detachment was
killed while defending himself bravely to the last. In addition to the
twenty-eight soldiers, two Bari interpreters were also killed, making a
total loss of thirty.)
I at once determined to leave Major Abdullah as commandant at Fatiko,
and to take Tayib Agha back to Gondokoro, as he was not fit for an
independent command.
The immense delay in sending up the reinforcements had been occasioned
by the long voyage from Khartoum.
When Wat-el-Mek had reached Gondokoro, the troops HAD NOT ARRIVED from
Khartoum; therefore he was obliged to wait.
When at length they did arrive, they had been THIRTEEN MONTHS on the
voyage to Gondokoro, and had passed the rainy season with the
slave-traders in the camp of Kutchuk Ali on the Bahr Giraffe; this river
they reported as navigable, owing to my canals, which had continued
open.
It was the old story of delay and indolence, unless I was personally
present to force them forward.
I had now 620 men, therefore I reinforced Rionga and the various
stations. I thus garrisoned strongly Fatiko, Fabbo, and Paniadoli - the
stockade opposite Rionga's island, in N. lat. 2 degrees 6'.
The country of Unyoro was now completely in the grasp of Ali Genninar
and Rionga. Unyoro extends to the south of the equator on the shores of
the Albert N'yanza, where Kabba Rega was supposed to be hiding.
On 14th March I drew out the following orders for Major Abdullah, who
would remain as commandant of Fatiko: -
"1. Observe the rules at present existing respecting sentries.
"2. Observe the rules at present existing for cleanliness of camp.
"3. Plant negheel grass on ramparts during the rainy season.
"4. Clean out the fort ditch once every month.
"5. Each company of troops is to cultivate corn and vegetables at the
commencement of the rains.
"6. Each company to be exercised at musketry drill for one hour daily.
"7. All troops to be exercised at light-infantry drill for three hours
on Mondays and Fridays, upon which days there will be no other work.
"8. The corn-tax is to be regularly collected, so that three months'
supply shall be the minimum in the camp granaries.
"9. The bugle to sound the night alarm once every month, to accustom the
men to night quarters.
"10. The troops to occupy their stations at general quarters, according
to present practice.
"11. Banana plants to be introduced upon every opportunity from Magungo.
"12. Coffee-berries [*] to be sown in nursery-beds, when received from
M'tese.
[*Footnote: I had written to him for a supply of coffee-seed.)
"13. The old huts to be cleared away and replaced by new, constructed in
lines similar to those in the south camp.
"14. No ivory to be purchased in exchange for cattle, but only in barter
for goods.
"15. NO SLAVES TO BE EITHER PURCHASED OR TAKEN.
"16. The bugle to sound 'Extinguish fires' at 8 p.m."
Having left everything in perfect order in the new central territory, I
was ready to start for Gondokoro on 20th March.
I had been two years and five months without any news or communication
with either Egypt or Europe when the post arrived with Wat-el-Mek. About
600 copies of the Times had arrived at once. We had been introduced to
the Tichborne case; and of course had, at the earliest stage of the
trial, concluded that the claimant was Arthur Orton. The news that is
almost stereotyped in English newspapers gave us the striking incidents
of civilization. Two or three wives had been brutally knocked about by
their husbands, who had received only a slight punishment. A prominent
divorce case; a few Irish agrarian outrages; a trial in the
ecclesiastical court of a refractory clergyman; the smash-up of a few
public companies, with the profitable immunity of the directors; a lady
burnt to death; a colliery explosion; several hundred railway accidents,
which induced me to prefer walking; the Communists had half destroyed
Paris; republican principles were fast spreading through England; the
Gladstone ministry would last for ever; some babies had been poisoned,
and the baby-farmer had been hanged; deceased wife's sisters were to
marry their disconsolate brothers; England was to pay a tribute to
America (for the freaks of the Alabama); drunkenness was on the
increase; ladies were to become our physicians; &c. I was almost afraid
to return home; but as I had some friends and relations that I wished to
see again, I left my little paradise, Fatiko, and marched for Gondokoro,
accompanied by my good natives, Shooli and Gimoro.
