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.
On 21st May I sent word to Kabba Rega (who had declined to appear in
public or private) that if he persisted in this deception I should
myself be compelled to return to Fatiko, as it would be impossible for
me to hold communications with any person in whom I could place no
confidence.
In the event of my departure from Unyoro he knew the consequences.
