Having examined them, I ordered the men to their quarters, and they all
left the fort, with the exception of the night guard.
The two interpreters, Umbogo and Aboo Kooka, were secured by a thin cord
fastened round their necks.
Having given all the necessary instructions, I ordered Monsoor to go to
the chief Matonse, with a message that I wished to see him, as the men
had been ill after drinking the cider, and although now recovered, it
would be satisfactory if he would examine the remaining jars.
Monsoor took his rifle, and accompanied by a corporal, Ferritch Baggara,
one of the best soldiers of the "Forty Thieves," started on his mission.
Matonse's house, as already described, was within 200 yards of the
government divan.
It was now about 5.45 A.M. I noticed that Kabba Rega's divan, within
fifty yards of the government house, seemed full of people, some of whom
were washing their faces, as though they had just risen from sleep.
My wife had now joined me, and, according to my usual habit, I strolled
up and down the broad gravelled approach and smoked a short pipe. We
were conversing together about the present state of affairs, and were
anxiously expecting the return of Monsoor with Matonse, who would
perhaps throw some light on the matter.
I was followed closely by a bugler and a choush (sergeant). The main
entrance of the approach from the town was bordered upon either side by
a dense plantation of castor-oil trees, which continued in a thick
fringe along the edge of the garden, so as to screen the huts from our
view, although they were within twenty paces of the entrance of the
drive.
The castor-oil bushes were within five yards of the entrance, and
gradually increased the distance, as they turned obliquely towards the
private divan of Kabba Rega.
We little suspected that sharpshooters were already concealed within
this dense covert.
My wife and I had reached the entrance of the approach. Nothing seemed
to denote hostility on the part of the natives, no person being visible,
except those guards who occupied the king's divan.
Suddenly we were startled by the savage yells of some thousand voices,
which burst unexpectedly upon us!
This horrible sound came from the direction of Matonse's house, and was
within 120 yards from the spot on which we stood; but the town was not
visible, owing to the thick covert of oil bushes.
The savage yells were almost immediately followed by two rifle shots in
the same direction.
"Sound the taboor!" Fortunately I gave this order to the bugler by my
side without one moment's delay.
I had just time to tell my wife to run into the divan and get my rifle
and belt, when the sharpshooters opened fire at me from the bushes,
within a few yards.
