These men explained that the chief, Matonse, was the cause of
the outbreak, and that it was his people who, by his orders, had killed
Monsoor and Ferritch.
Umbogo had been set at liberty during the fight, but I now secured him
by the neck to a leathern thong in the hand of a sentry; for, although a
good man, I could not afford to lose him, and the devil might have
tempted him to run away.
In the afternoon some natives cried out that Kittakara was coming, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Abd-el-Kader, with a few men, immediately went out to
meet him.
Kittakara would not approach within less than about a hundred yards, but
he assured Abd-el-Kader that the outbreak was not the fault of Kabba
Rega, but that the responsibility lay with Matonse, who had escaped, and
that he should be captured and delivered up to me.
He continued to assure Abd-el-Kader that Kabba Rega had already ordered
provisions and a large number of elephants' tusks to be collected for
us, and that, although for the present he was hiding through fear in the
high grass, he would quickly rebuild his divan close to my own, so as to
live in friendship.
It was impossible to credit one syllable in Unyoro. On the other hand,
should I be unable to bring the enemy to terms, I should be chained to
the spot, as it would be impossible to transport my baggage.
It was an awkward position. The treachery had been frightful, and I
could only attribute it to Kabba Rega's orders, in spite of the
protestations of Kittakara. If I should be right in my suspicions, what
would become of Major Abdullah and his detachment?
Nothing would be easier for the 300 natives who had accompanied my
people with the post, than to behave well on the route to Fatiko, in
order to establish confidence. They could then carry all the effects and
ammunition, in company with Abdullah and his troops, from Fatiko to
Unyoro, and in the prairie wilderness, they might murder every man at
night when asleep, and possess themselves of the arms, ammunition, and
effects, with which they would rejoin Kabba Rega.
This was a frightful idea; and there could be no doubt that such
treachery had been planned, if Kabba Rega were guilty of the attempt to
poison the troops and attack us by surprise. It was hard to disbelieve
his guilt.
There were no means possible of communication with Abdullah. In case of
necessity, there was only one move; this was to march to the Victoria
Nile, and form an alliance with Rionga, the old enemy of Kamrasi's
family, whom I had always refused to attack. I was sure that he must
have heard of my refusal to ally myself with Kabba Rega against him:
thus he would be favourable to the government.
