In the afternoon I had an interview with Kabba Rega in his private
divan, within our garden. I was suddenly interrupted by Ali Genninar and
a few of his men, who presented themselves in the face of Kabba Rega, to
inform me that they could not start without their guns!
It appeared that on the day that Abd-el-Kader had ordered Kabba Rega to
disarm the people of Suleiman upon his first arrival at Masindi, the
young king had certainly ordered their disarmament, but he had himself
retained their arms and ammunition, in addition to a goatskin bag with
about 300 rounds of ball-cartridge. This had never been reported to me.
The mendacious young king had the audacity to deny this, in face of
several witnesses; and he would at once have retired from the divan (and
probably I should never have seen him again) had I not insisted upon his
remaining until the affair had been thoroughly explained.
It was then discovered that he had returned all the muskets to
Abd-el-Kader, except five; which were not forthcoming.
I requested him in future to adhere more strictly to the truth; as it
was a disgrace for a man in his position to tell a falsehood, which
would render it impossible for me to place implicit confidence in him;
at the same time I insisted upon the immediate return of the guns,
together with the cartouche-belts and ammunition.
The young king retired in great confusion and stilled anger, with a
promise that everything should be restored!
In the afternoon he sent five wretched old muskets that had been injured
in the stocks, and repaired with the raw hide of crocodiles. These had
never belonged to the irregulars; but he had kept their good guns, and
hoped to exchange these wretched weapons, which had been given some
years ago to Kamrasi by the vakeel, Ibrahim.
I spoke very strongly to Kittakara, his favourite minister; and
explained to him the folly and discredit of such conduct.
Kittakara replied: "Is not Kabba Rega your son? Do you begrudge him a
few good guns and ammunition taken from your late enemies, the
slave-hunters?"
It was in vain that I endeavoured to explain that these people were
subjects of the Khedive, and had now received forgiveness: therefore, as
they were engaged as irregulars they must receive their arms. Kittakara
simply replied: "Do you believe in these people? Do you think that,
because they have now enlisted through fear, they will ever change their
natures?"
I asked him "if soap would wash the black spots from a leopard's skin?"
but I explained that I could strip the skin at once off the leopard, and
should quickly change their natures.
Day after day passed, and the ammunition was only returned in driblets,
after constant and most urgent demands.
