ismailia-第124章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 the slaughter that had been accomplished by Okooloo。
The prospect of a general attack upon Kabba Rega with fire and lance was
delightful to the taste of this warlike old chief； who would； at the end
of the campaign； have no more room on his own skin； and would have to
keep the list of his game either upon the back of a son or a favourite
wife。
I soon made friends with these tribes。 A few red and yellow
handkerchiefs； and two or three pounds of red and white beads； were
sufficient to gain their alliance。 I proclaimed Rionga as the vakeel of
the government； who would rule Unyoro in the place of Kabba Rega；
deposed。 Rionga was accepted by acclamation； and if the young traitor；
Kabba Rega； could have witnessed this little projet de traite； he would
have shivered in his shoes。
Rionga was a general favourite； and the natives were sincerely glad to
see him at length supported by the government。 Throughout his life he
had striven bravely against every species of treachery and persecution；
the day of his revenge had arrived。
I did not wish to overrun Unyoro until the grass should be fit to burn；
this would not be until the end of November。
I therefore arranged that I would leave Abd…el…Kader with sixty…five men
in a powerful stockade that I had constructed on the edge of the river
in this spot； N。 lat。 2 degrees 6' 17〃； to support Rionga； and to
organize the native forces； while I would take forty men （sniders） and
march to Fatiko； to inquire into all that had happened during my
absence。 It would be necessary to form a corps of irregulars under the
command of Wat…el…Mek； which I should immediately send to occupy Unyoro。
Rionga told me that he should attack M'rooli in company with the Langgos
and Umiros； who would quickly overrun the country now that Kabba Rega
was unsupported by the slave…hunters。
He at once collected fifty natives to carry our loads to Fatiko。
On 27th July； having left all beads； &c。； with Colonel Abd…el…Kader for
the purchase of provisions； we took a cordial leave of Rionga； and
started； in six canoes； at 12。30 P。M。； paddling down the stream； we
arrived at our deserted zareeba at 3。12 P。M。 We found the camp quite
undisturbed； no one appeared to have entered it since we had left it
some days ago。 The palm outrigger canoes were lying in the same spot；
secured to the rushes； and all that had belonged to us was rigidly
respected。
Rionga had given us a sheep to eat during our march of seventy…nine
miles from Foweera to Fatiko。 This did not seem very generous； but his
cattle had been mostly carried off by the slave…hunters under Suleiman。
Fortunately； just as we entered our old station； I shot a guinea…fowl；
which made a good curry； and saved our store of dried fish for the
uninhabited wilderness before us。
The best fish （as I before mentioned in 〃The Albert N'yanza〃） is the
Lepidosiren annectens； and this fat and delicate meat is excellent when
smoked and dried。
We slept in our old camp； and early on the following morning we prepared
to cross the river。
Rionga's people did not quite trust the inhabitants on the other side； I
accordingly sent a strong party of rifles across first to occupy the
high rocky landing…place。
On the return of the canoes； we were just preparing to cross with the
remainder of the party； when I observed eight natives walking very fast
along the forest…covered cliff on the other side。 We immediately gave
the alarm to our men who occupied the rocks。 The telescope now
discovered that the arrangement of the hair of these natives was the
fashion of Shooli and Fatiko。
The eight strangers； who had not before observed us； now halted in
astonishment； and presently they shouted in good Arabic
〃Are you the Pacha's soldiers？ We are sent by Abdullah to look for the
Pacha！〃
This was great good fortune； then Abdullah was alive； and I hoped my
detachment was all right！
We crossed the broad river； and upon close arrival； we discovered that
two of the messengers were well known to us； one of whom was Iarro； the
interpreter of the great sheik； Rot Jarma。
The first gleam of pleasure with which I had welcomed these messengers
quickly changed to considerable anxiety。
I was now informed that the attempt to destroy us by poison； and
subsequently by a treacherous attack at Masindi； was mainly due to the
intrigues of Abou Saood； who had originally advised Kabba Rega to resist
me should I arrive in his country。 This traitor Abou Saood had
considered that we should be certainly massacred when once in the heart
of Unyoro。 He had therefore assumed a despotic command of Fatiko and all
the neighbouring countries shortly after my departure； and he had given
orders ‘ to the natives and to the sheik； Rot Jarma； that 〃no supplies
of corn should be provided for Major Abdullah's troops。〃
Rot Jarma had been faithful to the government； and his people had
carried corn to Major Abdullah。 Abou Saood had therefore ordered his men
to attack Rot Jarma。 They had accordingly surprised him while believing
in the protection of the government； and had captured his cattle；
together with a number of slaves。 In that attack the brigands had lost
five men； whose guns had been subsequently taken to Kabba Rega for sale
by the natives we had seen at Masindi。
Abou Saood then； enraged at the loss of five men； together with their
guns； had sent for Wat…el…Mek from Faloro； and had given him the command
above the well…known Ali Hussein； with orders to carry fire and sword
through the country。
Major Abdullah had vainly expostulated。 Abou Saood had personally
threatened him； and Ali Hussein and an officer named Lazim； with some
others； had gone armed into the government camp； and had actually seized
natives who had taken refuge with Abdullah； from whose house they were
thus dragged by force in defiance of authority。
When the news arrived from Foweera that I had punished Suleiman for the
murder of the prisoner； both Abou Saood and his people had declared；
that they 〃would secure Major Abdullah in a forked pole； or sheba； and
treat hiin in a similar manner。〃 They had also threatened to attack the
government camp。
Major Abdullah had written to me at Masindi requesting instructions； he
had intrusted the letter to a native of Faieera。 This man had most
unfortunately arrived at Masindi late in the evening upon which the
troops had been poisoned。 On the following morning he was a witness to
the murder of poor Monsoor and Ferritch Bagara； and when the general
action commenced； he climbed up a tree at no great distance from the
station； and cried out that 〃he was the bearer of a letter from
Abdullah。〃
The bullets whizzed so thickly about him that he descended from his
post； and then； being alarmed lest he might be killed by the natives
should his mission be discovered； he had run away as fast as possible；
and returned 160 miles to Fatiko。 Thus I never received Major Abdullah's
letter。
The letter…carrier having seen our handful of men surrounded by many
thousands of the enemy in Masindi； and knowing that the perfect
organization of Unyoro would bring countless enemies upon us； who would
occupy the routes by ambuscades； had considered our position hopeless。
The report was spread 〃that we were all destroyed：〃 thus Abou Saood was
delighted。
Some days later； my party arrived at Fatiko that had left Masindi on the
23rd May with the post； together with the prisoner Suleiman。
These people had suffered terribly； and had lost eleven men killed；
exclusive of one who had died on the way from fatigue。
The treacherous plan arranged by Kabba Rega had failed； and the natives
had attacked them before the time appointed。 This will be described
hereafter。
Suleiman was no longer a prisoner； but he commanded the Fabbo station
for Abou Saood。
Wat…el…Mek had received my letter； and he wished to serve the
government； but Abou Saood had prevented him； and now that I was
supposed to be dead； it would be impossible。
This man； Wat…el…Mek； had nevertheles
