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formerly； when alone； had defended Kamrasi； and driven out the invaders
under Wat…el…Mek； by hoisting the English ensign； so now I would take
the country under my protection with a powerful force。
〃I gave Quonga and all his sheiks presents of beads； and shocked them
powerfully with the magnetic battery； leaving a strong impression。
〃March 24。…I wrote officially to Suleiman； the vakeel of Agad & Co。； to
give him warning 'that sixteen days hence the contract would expire； and
that he and all his people must be ready to evacuate the country and
return to Khartoum on that day。 That any person who should remain after
this notice would be imprisoned。 That； should he or any of his people
wish to enlist in the service of the government as irregular troops；
their names must be handed in before the expiration of two days。'
〃Suleiman declared his willingness to enlist together with Eddrees and
several others。
〃He told me that nothing could be procured in the country。 Thank God I
left a good reputation here seven years ago； thus I shall be able to
purchase food。
〃This morning my old acquaintance； Keedja； formerly chief of Atada； came
to see me with many of his people； and with perfect confidence they
commenced a trade； bringing provisions in exchange for beads。 They
promised to arrive to…morrow； and to establish a daily market at our
camp。
〃Keedja explains that he and his people have been obliged to fly from
the depredations of the companies of Abou Saood； thus they have settled
in the forest on the north side of the river； and have cultivated farms。
They have very few clothes； as their bark…cloth trees are on the south
side of the river in their old plantations。
〃All the people declare they will now return to their old habitations
and re…cultivate the land as in former days。
〃I found that the natives who ran from us on the march； and dropped
their elephant spears； were Keedja's people； thus I returned to them the
three spears and an axe； to their great astonishment。 （A party of
native hunters had been scared during our march by our sudden
appearance。）
〃The elephant spears were of a kind used from trees。 The blade is about
twenty inches long； the handle about twenty…four inches。 The end of the
handle is heavily weighted with a lump of several pounds； composed of
clay； cow…dung； and chopped straw； and the weapon； beautifully
sharpened； is dropped upon the elephant's back by a hunter from the
branches of a tree。 The constant movement of the heavy handle as it
strikes the boughs when the elephant rushes through the forest； cuts the
animal so terribly that it bleeds to death。 The hunters follow on the
blood track until they find the dying animal。
〃March 25。 Suleiman； the vakeel； summoned his men to volunteer for the
government service as irregular troops。
〃I issued a written proclamation； that should volunteers enlist； the
term of service would be annual； subject to three months' notice； should
any officer or private wish to retire at the expiration of twelve
months。
〃The rank of the vakeel would be equivalent to that of major in the
regular army。
〃The pay would be equal to that of regular troops。
〃If I can form a regiment of 600 irregulars I shall be independent of
troops from Khartoum。
〃March 26。 Quonga and many other sheiks arrived； and were quite
delighted with the wheel of life。
〃The natives are selling sweet potatoes and tobacco for beads； but flour
is brought in very small quantities。
〃March 27。 Provisions are coming in so slowly that we shall be short
of food。 Upon the arrival of Quonga and his sheiks； I make a hot
complaint； he coldly told me that it would be better if the soldiers
were to forage for themselves。
〃I explained to him the rigid discipline that I enforced； and that；
should I once permit thieving； the troops' character would be entirely
ruined； and they would pillage throughout the route。
〃He replied that this neighbourhood was in a state of anarchy； that many
of the inhabitants were hostile to Kabba Rega； and they would not obey
his orders。
〃I told him that my troops were lambs if well fed； but they were like
lions if hungry； and to prove their number I would summon them before
him。
〃The bugle sounded the 'taboor；' and upwards of 100 men immediately fell
in with bayonets fixed； to the no small dismay of Quonga and his sheiks；
who began to look very uneasy at the scarlet uniforms。 By a coup de
theatre； I marched the men； with bugles and drums playing； round the
numerous huts； so that they reappeared twice before the tent； and thus
doubled their real number。
〃At the halt and dismissal； they shouted their usual wild cry in
Turkish； in honour of their commander。
〃'Do you understand what they say？' I asked Quonga。 To his negative
reply； I answered； 'They say they will eat from the country if
provisions are not supplied to…morrow！'
〃Quonga and his sheiks started off immediately to give the necessary
orders。
〃Upon his return I told him 'to advise Kabba Rega to behave in a
different manner to the conduct of his father； the late Kamrasi。 I had
returned to this country to bestow prosperity upon the land； that if
Kabba Rega meant fair dealing and legitimate trade； he must act
honourably and sincerely； if I should find any signs of unfairness； I
should pass on direct to Uganda； the Country of M'tese； and he would
receive the goods I had intended for Unyoro。'
〃Negroes are great deceivers； especially the natives of Unyoro。 I have
beads； cattle； merchandise； and every article necessary to purchase
flour and potatoes： nevertheless； our wants are not supplied。 The cattle
are dying； as the change of herbage does not agree with them； this is a
sad loss。 （One of the African difficulties consists in the mortality
of the cattle when changing districts。）
〃March 28。 The great sheik； Lokara； who is the commander…in…chief of
Kabba Rega's forces； arrived。 This man has left a large army on the
banks of the Nile； a few hours' march up stream； ready to attack Rionga；
who is settled； with his people； on an island in the river。 Of course he
is come to request military aid。 This is the old story。 Upon my last
visit I was bored almost to death by Kamrasi； with requests that I would
assist him to attack Rionga。 I have only been here for a few days when I
am troubled with the old tune。
〃March 29。 Provisions are very scarce； the people have been fighting
for so many years that cultivation has been much neglected； and the
natives live principally upon plantains。
〃I gave Suleiman； the vakeel； five cows yesterday。 He declares that Abou
Saood told him that my term of service with the Egyptian government had
expired； therefore the entire country was now in his hands。 This liar；
Abou Saood； will some day reap the fruits of his treachery。
〃I ordered the government flag to be hoisted in Suleiman's camp； and the
vakeel； Suleiman； called upon all those who were willing to enlist in
the service of the Khedive to assemble beneath the ensign。 Sixty…one men
registered their names。
〃The only difficulty is the rate of wages。 I offer the privates sixty
piastres （the piastre equals twopence…halfpenny）