ismailia-第93章
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to the contents of a small pool； which usually sufficed for the village
people。
I always travelled with a large sponging bath； which was one of the
household gods of the expedition。 This was now full of pure rain water。
The value of this old friend was incalculable。 In former years I had
crossed the Atbara river in this same bath； lashed upon an angareb
（stretcher）； supported by inflated skins。 Without extra flotation it
would support my weight； and it was always used when crossing a small
stream； assisted by two men wading； one of whom held it on either side
to prevent it from overturning。 Thus we could travel without the
necessity of plunging into deep mud and water。
Such a utensil was invaluable for watering the horses； also for washing
clothes； or for receiving a supply of rain…water during a shower； from
the camp…sheets suspended above the bath。
The neighbourhood of Kisoona was very populous； but the villages were
all concealed in the forest； amidst vast groves of bananas。
There was a large tract of potato cultivation； a supply of these welcome
roots was with difficulty obtained from the natives。
It appeared to be a repetition of my former experience in this country；
which unpleasantly reminded me of the scarcity of food during my first
exploration of Unyoro。
On the following morning （12th April）； when the horses were saddled and
we were ready to start； not a single native was forthcoming。 Every man
of about 200 carriers had absconded！
〃Although Rahonka had assured me； previous to starting from the river；
that food would be ready for the troops at every halting…place； nothing
has been prepared。 We are thus left as much neglected as during my
former voyage in this detestable country。 There is not one sheik with
us； although three principal chiefs were told off to accompany us to
Masindi。 I therefore told our friend Pittia that I should not proceed
farther； as I would have nothing to do with so miserable a king as Kabba
Rega。
〃I immediately sent Colonel Abd…el…Kader back to Foweera with thirty
men； and a letter to Suleiman； ordering him to collect 300 men at once
to return my effects to his zareeba。 I tied Pittia； the guide； by a
small cord attached to the neck； as I feared he also might escape。 What
can be done with these treacherous people？
〃There is a report； now confirmed by the dragoman； Umbogo； that a plan
had been arranged between Suleiman and Rahonka that I should be led out
of their way； and they would then join their forces and attack Rionga。
〃I do not believe that Suleiman would place his head in such a halter。
〃Very heavy rain at 1 P。M。
〃April 13。The soil is wonderfully fertilethis is a chocolate…
coloured vegetable loam。 Among the crops is a species of esculent
solanum； with large orange…coloured berries； both the fruit and leaves
are eaten by the natives。
〃I repaired my boots to…day with the milk from the india…rubber…tree。
Julian （Lieutenant Baker） had fever。 Colonel Abd…el…Kader and party
returned at 2。40 P。M。； having marched rapidly； and accomplished their
mission and a journey of forty…two miles in twenty…seven hours and forty
minutes。
〃This excellent officer brought with him； secured by a small leather
thong； by the neck； the great sheiks Kittakara； Matonse； and several
smaller fry。
〃The royal sheik； Rahonka； escaped by breaking through the side of his
hut。
〃The report was as follows：
〃Colonel Abd…el…Kader and his party of thirty men had arrived at
Suleiman's zareeba at about 8 P。M。 He found the vakeels； Suleiman and
Eddrees； surrounded by many of their men； apparently in consultation。
〃Upon Abd…el…Kader's appearance； the men moved off； one by one； and
quietly packed up their effects； preparatory to a general flight。
〃Abd…el…Kader informed Suleiman of the desertion of our carriers。 He
then at once proceeded to the native zareeba； about 200 yards from the
camp。 He there found the principal sheiks in the hut of Rahonka。
〃Abd…el…Kader immediately informed them of the purport of his arrival；
and requested the sheiks to accompany him to the zareeba of Suleiman。
Rahonka begged to be left alone for a short time to enable him to dress。
〃Abd…el…Kader waited outside the door of the hut； and； becoming tired of
so long a delay； he re…entered； and to his astonishment found the
dwelling _empty。_ Rahonka had escaped by a hole in the straw wall。
〃Suspicion being raised by the incomprehensible flight of Rahonka； the
colonel placed the remaining sheiks under a guard； and led them to
Suleiman's zareeba。 He then applied to Suleiman for a guard of eight men
to watch the sheiks during the night； as his own party required rest。
〃Suleiman now informed him that he could not supply the men； as all his
people had absconded from fear （of Abd…el…Kader）。
〃On the following morning the colonel perceived； from the smoke above
our old camp on the opposite side of the river （which in this part is
500 yards broad）； that Suleiman's people had escaped during the night；
and had crossed the river with all their slaves and effects。
〃This was the first act of my new irregular levythey had positively
run away from the colonel like a parcel of hostile natives！
〃Suleiman and Eddrees declared that they could not control their men；
who were afraid that I had ordered my officer to release the slaves that
were in their possession。 （The truth was they considered that I had
heard of the murder of the prisoner committed to the care of Suleiman；
and that I had sent the colonel and his party to make inquiries。）
〃Abd…el…Kader ordered Suleiman to accompany him to my halting…place at
Kisoona。 Suleiman declined upon the excuse that he had some business；
but that he would present himself to…morrow。〃
〃I can stand these scoundrels' conduct no longer。 I have tried lenient
measures； and I had hoped that by forming Suleiman's party into an
irregular corps I might be able； by degrees； to change their habits； and
to reduce them by good discipline into useful troops； but 'Can the
Ethiopian change his skin； or the leopard his spots？'
〃I immediately released and examined the captive sheiks； who one and all
declared that the fault lay with Suleiman； who had previously arranged
the plan with Rahonka： that when I should be led away a distance of two
days' journey； he would assemble his men and attack Rionga in
conjunction with Rahonka's army。
〃The report of Umbogo； the dragoman； is thus corroborated by
overwhelming evidence。 This man； Umbogo； declares that Abou Saood wrote
to Suleiman； instructing him to wait until I should have passed on； and
then to bring all his slaves to Fabbo。
〃I immediately sent Captain Mohammed Deii with fifty men； including
twenty…five of the 'Forty Thieves；' with orders to liberate all slaves
that might be discovered within the zareeba。 He was to summon all the
people of Suleiman； and to disarm those who had run away from the
colonel； Abd…el…Kader。
〃In the event of resistance； he was to use the force at his disposal；
and at all hazards to prevent the escape of the slavers across the
river。
〃Suleiman and Eddrees were to be brought before me。
〃A heavy shower fell just after the troops started。
〃April 14。Julian's horse； Gazelle； died last night； the poor animal
had been ill for some days。
〃Quonga； who is the sheik of this district； came this morning and
excused his absence in rather a lame fashion； by saying that he had been
collecting food for the troops； together with carriers； who are now
ready to transport the baggage to Masindi。 He declared that Kabba Rega
was impatient； and had sent three of Suleiman's people to deliver the
message to me； but these rascals had passed on this morning direct to
the zareeba of Suleiman； without communicating with us on the way。
〃Quonga not only corroborated the testimony of the sheiks and the
dragoman； Umbogo； against Suleiman； as having conspired to attack Rionga
after my departure； but he gave additional evidence； that 'Suleiman had
told Rahonka and the great sheiks that I； the Pacha； knew nothing about
war； that none of the government troops could shoot； and that I should
only travel and subsist upon the country； but that
