These
shells were afterwards divided among his bonosoora as their daily pay.
My station had not been arranged for defence, as I considered that
hostilities in this country could not be possible. Although black human
nature is the darkest shade of character, I never could have believed
that even Kabba Rega could have harboured treacherous designs against
us, after the benefits that both he and his people had received from me.
The country had been relieved from the slave-hunters, and my people were
actually on the road to Fatiko to liberate and restore to their families
about 1,000 women and children of Unyoro. I was about to establish a
school. No thefts had taken place on the part of the troops. The rights
of every native had been respected. The chiefs had received valuable
presents, and the people had already felt the advantage of legitimate
trade.
At the same time that hostility appeared impossible, I could not blind
myself to the fact of the late demonstration; it would therefore be
absolutely necessary to construct a small fort, for the security of the
ammunition and effects, which could no longer be exposed in simple straw
huts, without protection.
I explained this necessity to my officers and men, all of whom were
keenly alive to the evil spirit of Kabba Rega, from whom they expected
future mischief.
