友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

ismailia-第110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!



disagreeable manner。 A broad but low forehead and high cheek…bones;
added to a large mouth; with rather prominent but exceedingly white
teeth; complete the description of his face。 His hands were beautifully
shaped; and his finger…nails were carefully pared and scrupulously
clean。 The nails of his feet were equally well attended to。 He wore
sandals of raw buffalo…hide; but neatly formed; and turned up round the
edges。

〃His robe of bark…cloth; which completely covered his body; was
exquisitely made; and had been manufactured in Uganda; which country is
celebrated for this curious production。

〃This was Kabba Rega; the son of Kamrasi; the sixteenth king of Unyoro;
of the Galla conquerors; a gauche; awkward; undignified lout of twenty
years of age; who thought himself a great monarch。 He was cowardly;
cruel; cunning; and treacherous to the last degree。 Not only had he
ordered the destruction of his brother; Kabka Miro; but after his death;
he had invited all his principal relations to visit him; these he had
received with the greatest kindness; and at parting; he had presented
them with gifts; together with an escort of his body…guard; called
bonosoora; to see them safe home。 These men; by the young king's
instructions; murdered them all in the high grass during their return
journey。 By these means he had got rid of troublesome relations; and he
now sat securely upon the throne with only one great enemy; this was
Rionga; the stanch and determined foe of his father; who had escaped
from every treachery; and still lived to defy him in the north…eastern
provinces of Unyoro。

〃It was easy to understand that he would welcome my arrival with a force
sufficiently large to assist him against Rionga; and at the same time to
rid him of Suleiman's party。 He made use of the latter force as
mercenary troops; to which he was obliged to allow boundless license;
otherwise he might be invaded by the whole power of the combined
companies of Fabbo; Faloro; Fatiko; and Farragenia。 These companies
might at any time change sides and ally themselves with Rionga; thus;
could I clear the country of such doubtful allies; he would be relieved
from all cause of alarm。〃

Notwithstanding these advantages; the young king sat uneasily upon his
divan; and appeared timid and suspicious。 According to Turkish
etiquette; a handsome chibouque; trimmed with blue silk and gold; was
handed to him。 He examined the amber mouth…piece but declined to smoke;
as 〃tobacco would blacken his teeth;〃 this was a curious excuse from a
Central African dandy。

I begged him to accept the long pipe as a reminiscence of my arrival。
Coffee and sherbet were then handed to him; but he declined both; and
insisted upon two of his chiefs drinking the whole; during which
operation he watched them attentively; as though in expectation of some
poisonous effect。

This was conduct that boded no good for future relations。 My wife tried
to converse with him through the interpreter; Umbogo。 Kabba Rega then
explained that he recollected us both; as he was one of a crowd when a
boy on the day we started from M'rooli for the Albert N'yanza。

The conversation quickly turned upon Rionga; whom he declared must be
either captured or killed; before any improvement could take place in
the country。 The young king assumed that it was already arranged that I
should assist him in this laudable object。 I now changed the
conversation by ordering a large metal box to be brought in。 This had
already been filled with an assortment of presents; including a watch。 I
explained to him that the latter had been intended for his father;
Kamrasi; in the recollection of his constant demands for my watch during
my former visit。 The new toy was ticking loudly; and it was of course
handed round and held to the ear of each chief before it was replaced in
the box。

Kabba Rega replied that he knew I had been a great friend of his father;
Kamrasi; and that I had now brought many valuable presents for him; but
I must not forget; that; although the father was dead; the son (himself)
was still alive; therefore I might at once hand over to him all that I
had intended for his parent。

This was a true son of his father in the art of begging。 I replied; that
〃hens did not lay all their eggs in one day; but continued one by one;
and that I hoped; when I should know him better; he would discover the
advantage of commerce; as the various goods that had now been introduced
were intended to exhibit the manufactures of my own country。 These would
continue to arrive in Unyoro to be exchanged for ivory。〃

I then exhibited the large musical box with drums and bells。 This was
one of the best instruments of its kind; and it played a remarkably good
selection of airs; which quite charmed the audience。 Among the presents
I had given to Kabba Rega was a small musical snuff box。 This was now
wound up and exhibited; but the greedy young fellow at once asked 〃Why I
did not give him the large box?〃

I gave him a regular lecture upon the advantages of commerce that would
introduce an important change in this extraordinary country; at the same
time I recalled to his recollection; that I had promised his father to
open up a commercial route by which the productions and manufactures of
the north should arrive in Unyoro; and render that country even more
prosperous than Uganda。 I had now arrived; as the lieutenant of the
Khedive; according to my promise; and the whole of the equatorial Nile
basis would be taken under his protection。 No unnecessary wars would be
permitted; but he (Kabba Rega) would remain as the representative of the
government; and the affairs of the country would be conducted through
him alone。

I assured him that no country could prosper without industry and a good
government; that agriculture was the foundation of a country's wealth;
and that war or civil disturbance; which interfered with agricultural
employment; would ruin the kingdom。 He replied that 〃Rionga was the sole
cause of war; therefore it would be necessary to destroy him before any
improvements could be made。 If Rionga were killed and the slave…hunters
expelled from the country; there might be some hope of progress; but
that it was wasting breath to talk of commerce and agriculture until
Rionga should be destroyed。〃

This was Kamrasi's old tune once more dinned into my ears。 In my former
journey I had been deserted by my carriers and starved for three months
at Shooa Moru; simply to induce me to yield to this repeated demand:
〃Kill Rionga; or give me your men to assist me against him。〃

From what I had heard I considered that Rionga must be a very fine
fellow; and much superior to either Kamrasi or his son。

In my former journey I had accomplished a long and difficult exploration
without firing a shot at a human being; and I had studiously avoided
meddling in native politics; which is certain to involve a traveller in
difficulty。 It had always been a source of great satisfaction when I
looked back to my past adventures; and reflected that I had never pulled
a trigger at a native; thus the arrival of a white man in these
countries would be regarded without suspic
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!