ismailia-第123章
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battle of Masindi would never have taken place； and the lives of some of
my best men would have been spared。
I would now depose Kabba Rega； and appoint Rionga as the vakeel or
representative of the Egyptian government； provided he would swear
allegiance。
I sent a present to Rionga of entire pieces of Turkey red cloth； blue
twill； and four handkerchiefs； at the same time I explained that we were
very hungry； and required cattle and corn。
Before the messengers returned； I inspected the troops； who marched
round the camp in their best scarlet uniforms； to the sound of the drums
and bugles。 This exhibition appeared to create quite an impression on
Rionga's people； who would report us fit for service on their return to
their chief。
Thirty of the men were suffering from ulcerated legs； caused by the
sharp； poisonous edges of the high grass。
In a couple of days； two large canoes arrived from Rionga with presents
of some corn； sweet potatoes； and a cow and sheep。 We killed the beef
immediately； as we were ravenously hungry。
On 16th July； we started； in nine canoes that had been supplied by
Rionga； to visit him at his station。 The troops marched by land on the
south bank。
After paddling for about fifteen miles along the grand Victoria Nile；
which in the narrowest part was at least 300 yards wide； we arrived at 5
P。M。 at a desolate spot； exactly opposite to the tail of the large
island upon which Rionga resided。
Nothing had been prepared for our reception； therefore we landed in the
forest； and my men set to work to collect firewood for the night。 The
troops who had marched overland had not arrived。 Fortunately we had some
flour and a bottle of curry…powder； therefore we dined off
dhurra…porridge and curry； and lay down on our camp…sheets to sleep。
This was a thorough negro welcome； nothing to eat！
The next morning； at about 7 A。M。； the troops with Colonel Abd…el…Kader
arrived； they had suffered much from high grass and thorns； as they had
been obliged to break their way through the jungle； in the total absence
of a path。
A number of Rionga's natives now arrived to assist in making our camp。
All hands set vigorously to work building huts； in an excellent position
that I had selected on the river's bank。
On 18th July； messengers came early to inform me that Rionga would
arrive that morning to give me a warm welcome。
I had already sent him； from Foweera； a beautiful cloak of gold brocade；
together with a new tarboosh and sky…blue turban。
At about 8 A。M。； drums were beating on the island； and horns were
blowing in all directions； these were signals that the renowned Rionga
was on the move。 We shortly perceived numerous large canoes pushing off
from the island； and making for our landing place； which I had already
cleared。
A cow； sheep； and a load of corn were first delivered as a present。
These were followed by Rionga； and a large staff of his principal
headmen。
He was a handsome man of about fifty； with exceedingly good manners。 He
had none of the stiffness of Kamrasi； nor the gauche bearing of Kabba
Rega； but he was perfectly at his ease。 He at once thanked me for the
handsome suit in which he was dressed； without which； he assured me that
it would have been difficult for him to have appeared before me in a
becoming manner。 The troops were drawn out to receive him； and the
conversation at once turned upon Kabba Rega and Abou Saood。
He had an intimate knowledge of all that had taken place； which had been
reported to him by his spies； and he declared that Abou Saood had long
ago arranged a plan with Kabba Rega for our destruction should we arrive
from Gondokoro。
Rionga was well aware how often I had refused to attack him； and he
confessed that I had been his saviour by the arrest of Suleiman； who
would have joined the forces of Kabba Rega to have crushed him。
I took a great fancy to Rionga； as he was so perfectly free and easy in
his manner。 He told me several anecdotes of the escapes he had had from
snares laid for him by Kamrasi； and he seemed quite rejoiced that I； who
had always declined to molest him before I had known him personally；
should now have taken him by the hand。
He declared that he would always remain the faithful representative of
the Khedive's government； but at the same time we must IMMEDIATELY
EXCHANGE BLOOD； without which ceremony； the people would not rise in his
favour。 He said； 〃If the natives of this country； and also the Langgos
and the Umiros； shall hear that I have exchanged blood with the Pacha；
they will have thorough confidence； as they will know that he will
always be true to me； and I to him； but without this irrevocable
contract； they will always suspect some intrigue； either upon your side
or mine。〃
Rionga proposed that we should drink blood on the following morning； as
no time should be lost； he revelled with childish delight in the despair
that would seize Kabba Rega and his chiefs when they should hear the
news that the Pacha； and his friend Rionga had exchanged blood。
The preparation for the ceremony was to commence that evening。 We were
to drink a large quantity of plaintain cider。 〃Not such stuff as Kabba
Rega gave you；〃 exclaimed Rionga； 〃but a drink such as a friend will
partake with you。〃 I was not to eat anything on the morrow； until the
sun should be in a certain position in the heavens； at which time he
would call upon me。 I was to exchange blood with Rionga； Colonel
Abd…el…Kader and Lieutenant Baker were to go through the same
interesting ceremony with his minister and his son at the same time。
I recommended him at once to summon the chiefs of the Langgos and the
Umiros； as I should wish to secure their alliance and allegiance without
loss of time。
Many large jars of the best quality of plantain cider were now brought
from the island。
The night passed in nothing but singing and dancing as Rionga gave an
entertainment in honour of our arrival； and as a preliminary to the
ceremony of exchanging blood on the following morning。
At about 9 A。M。 the unpleasant task was to be performed。 Rionga arrived
and begged me to accompany him within a tent； together with Lieutenant
Baker； Colonel Abd…el…Kader； Karmissua； and Majobi。
Several of his first…class people were admitted as witnesses； these were
Inqui； Kimata； Ulendu； Singoma； Kibera； and some others。
Fortunately I had a small lancet in the handle of my knife； therefore I
made a slight incision on my left fore…arm； from which a few drops of
blood flowed。 Rionga immediately seized my arm and greedily sucked the
scratch。 I had to perform upon his arm； and I took care to make so
slight a puncture that only a drop of blood appeared； this was quite
enough for my share of the ceremony。 We were now friends for ever； and
no suspicion of foul play could possibly be entertained。 Lieutenant
Baker and Abd…el…Kader went through the same operation with their
respective partners； and cemented an indissoluble friendship。
It was rather a disgusting performance； but at the same time it was
absolutely necessary for the success of the expedition。 I had now really
secured a trustworthy man； who would act as my vakeel。
When we emerged from the hut； a minstrel appeared； who played upon a
species of harp； and sang praises of myself and Rionga； and； of course；
abused Kabba Rega with true poetical licence。
I gave the minstrel a considerable present of beads； and he went away
rejoicing； singing and twanging his instrument to the discomfiture of
all our enemies。
It was fortunate that I had been able to carry so much as 300 lbs。 of
beads。 The soldiers could now purchase fish and potatoes。
On the 23rd July； two great sheiks were introduced by Rionga： 〃Gonah〃；
the chief of a Langgo district； and 〃Okooloo〃； a renowned warrior of the
Umiros。
The naked body of Okooloo was covered with small tattoo marks； each of
which I was assured represented a victim to his lance。
If he had really killed half that enormous number of men； he must have
considerably reduced the population； and he could have been doing little
else during his life。 Samson's feat of killing 1；000 men was hardly to
be compared to
