Fatiko is merely a district of the great country of Shooli, which is
governed by the sheik, Rot Jarma. This person had sent word that he
intended to visit me, to tender his allegiance to the government.
On 16th March, a wild sound of many horns was the first introduction,
and shortly after, a number of his people advanced chanting a peculiar
low song, and dancing a solemn slow step. The great sheik came behind
them. He was quickly ushered into my presence beneath a shady acacia,
close to my tent door. He was perfectly red from head to toes, having
been freshly smeared with red ochre and grease for the interview. A
well-dressed skin of an antelope was slung across his shoulder, and
descending across his loins it constituted his scanty clothing.
His conversation was merely a repetition of the old story being a series
of complaints against the slave-hunters. He declared that he had never
visited Abou Saood or any of his people, but that when he had heard of
my arrival, he had determined at once to offer his allegiance, and he
and all adjacent countries would serve the government faithfully, in
return for protection and justice.
I assured him that he had nothing to fear from the slave-hunters in
future, as I should leave Major Abdullah and a detachment of troops to
represent the government during my absence. He was to supply them with
corn, and to yield the same obedience to Major Abdullah as he would to
me. I gave him nine yards of red cotton cloth, six pounds of beads, two
razors, one comb, two horn snakes in boxes, one knife, one burning
glass, one zinc mirror, two nickel spoons, three rods of thick brass
wire, two finger rings, two pair of ear-rings, two red and yellow cotton
handkerchiefs.
The total value of this extensive present was about twenty-one
shillings.
Before he had arrived, he had requested that a goat might be sent to be
slaughtered at a stream before he should cross over; otherwise bad luck
would attend his visit. Of course this was acceded to, and the goat was
sacrificed and eaten by his people.
I gave him, according to my usual custom with all sheiks and headmen,
seeds of the best Egyptian cotton, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers,
water-melons, sweet-melons, barmian, maize, &c., &c.
Before parting, I amused and shocked him with the magnetic battery, and
he went away surprised and delighted.
I subsequently discovered that a large quantity of flour, together with
some fowls which he had forwarded to me, had been stopped and
appropriated by the renowned Ali Hussein.
