I at once divided the effects that could be carried, into the requisite
number of loads, which were carefully packed in metal boxes by my wife
and her black maids. It was hard and anxious work. The strongest men
were selected to carry the boxes of snider cartridges, which weighed 64
lbs. each.
All the rest of the baggage I arranged in piles, and distributed in the
government divan and the various houses. I spread my large tent over the
luggage in the divan, and poured over it a quantity of nitrous ether,
spirits of wine, lamp-oil, spirits of turpentine, and all the contents
of the large medicine-chest.
I filled up my small chest, and took a good roll of adhesive plaster, a
number of bandages, and a packet of lint.
Upon the tent-cloth, rendered highly inflammable by the saturation of
spirits and oil, I laid about sixty rockets.
My two horses and three donkeys would be loaded with baggage.
I gave orders for the march early on the following morning. The
rear-guard was to set fire to the station; this was the sad result of
our industry and labour in a land of detestable savages.
CHAPTER XXII
THE MARCH TO RIONGA.
On the morning of the 14th of June, 1872, at 9.30, the advance-guard
filed along the gravel path, and halted at the extremity of the station
at Masindi.
