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country。 The next move would be the attack upon Rionga。 I explained to
him that it would be quite useless for any enemy to retreat for security
to the river islands； as the rockets would search them out in the middle
of the dense canes； and they would be only too glad to escape； but at
the same time； I should hope that Rionga would come to terms and avoid
the necessity of a resort to force。
That evening； after we had dined； and I was smoking my customary
chibouque； Kabba Rega astonished me by an impromptu visit； he was as
usual attended by some of his followers armed with muskets。 He sat down
at the table； and having felt the table…cloth； he wished to know 〃why
the table was covered；〃 he then examined the tumblers； and everything
that was present； all of which he seemed to admire。 I offered him some
gin and water。 This he smelt but would not taste； as he suspected
poison； accordingly he poured it into wine glasses； and divided it among
three of his people； who were obliged to drink it； while their master
watched them attentively； in expectation of some ill effects。 His people
rather approved of the poison； and asked for more。 Kabba Rega seemed to
think that a larger dose was necessary； but as we could not afford to
waste Geneva by experiments upon numerous attendants； all of whom were
to be poisoned with our good liquor for the amusement of the king； I
sent the bottle away and turned the subject。
Kabba Rega now minutely examined the lamps and glass shades。 The
principle was explained to him； and the candle was withdrawn from the
tube and spring； and again replaced。 He expressed a wish to have one；
saying that he intended to have everything precisely as I had。
I assured him that this was my object； I wished to create new wants
among his people and himself； which would tend to develop commerce。 He
might have everything in European style； and live in a civilized manner；
now that the route was open from the north。 Ivory was abundant in this
country； and this would provide him with the means of purchasing all
that he could desire。
I had ordered Monsoor to arrange a stake in the ground； with a large
nail driven in the top at right angles to form a rocket…stand。 I now
asked Kabba Rega if he would like to see a rocket fired。
The idea delighted him； and a few rockets having been brought； together
with port…fires and blue lights； we exhibited the fireworks。 There was
no wind； thus the rockets did no damage； as they were inclined towards
the north； in which direction there were no buildings。
Kabba Rega himself ignited a rocket with a port…fire； and although
rather nervous at the great rush of fire； he seemed interested at the
fact that a town composed of straw huts could be destroyed from a
distance 。 。 。 。
On the following morning； Umbogo； the dragoman； told me that the natives
had been very much frightened at the rockets； as they said； 〃the Pacha
was going to set the sky on fire。〃
The station was progressing rapidly。 The soil was of such extraordinary
richness that the seeds sprang up like magic。 On the third day after
sowing； the cucumbers； melons； pumpkins； and cotton seeds； showed
themselves above ground。
I had made a broad walk of red gravel from Kabba Rega's new divan； to
the government house。 The roads and approaches were finished； and all
neatly laid with fresh gravel stamped firmly down。 The borders of all
paths and roads were sown with the best quality of Egyptian cotton；
known in Egypt as galleen。 My large tent was pitched beneath an immense
banian…tree； close to which was the new government house。 This
grand…sounding name was given to a very solid construction of a most
simple character。 The divan was a building containing only one room
twenty…eight feet long by fourteen wide； and about twenty feet high。 It
was carefully thatched with overhanging eaves； which formed a narrow
verandah； and it was entered by a commodious porch； this was arched in
the native fashion； and was so large that it formed a lobby； in which we
sometimes dined。 The inside walls of the divan were neatly made with
canes closely lashed together。
There was a back door to this public room which communicated with a
separate house by a covered way。
This was our private residence； which also consisted of only one room；
but I had arranged it with extreme neatness； in order to excite the
admiration of Kabba Rega and his chiefs； who would； I hoped； imitate the
manners and customs of civilized life； and thus improve trade。
The room was twenty…four feet long by thirteen wide。 The walls were as
usual made of canes； but these were carefully hung with scarlet
blankets； sewn together and stretched to the ground； so as to form an
even surface。 The floor was covered with mats。 Upon the walls opposite
to each other； so as to throw endless reflection； were two large oval
mirrors （girandoles） in gilt metal frames。 A photograph of her Majesty
the Queen stood on the toilet table。
At the extreme end of the room was a very good coloured print； nearly
life size； of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales。 The scarlet
walls were hung with large coloured prints； life size； of very beautiful
women； with very gorgeous dresses； all the jewelry being imitated by
pieces of coloured tinsel。 A number of sporting prints； very large； and
also coloured； were arranged in convenient places on the walls。 There
were fox…hunting scenes； and German stag…hunts； together with a few
quiet landscapes； that always recalled the dear old country now so far
away。
The furniture was simple enough： two angarebs； or Arab stretchers；
which； during the day； were covered with Persian carpets and served as
sofas； while at night they were arranged as beds。 The tables were made
of square metal boxes piled one upon the other and covered with bright
blue cloths。 These were arranged with all kinds of odd trinkets of gaudy
appearance； but of little value； which were intended to be asked for；
and given away。 Two native stools curiously cut out of a solid block
formed our chairs。 The guns and rifles stood in a row against a rack
covered with red Turkey cloth； and a large Geneva musical box lay upon a
table beneath the Princess of Wales。
Altogether the room was exceedingly pretty。 It would have been vulgar if
in England； but it was beautifully clean； and it shortly became the
wonder of Central Africa。
I had brought the large gilt mirrors from England specially for M'tese；
the king of Uganda； and for Kamrasi。 I knew that if they were arranged
in my own house； the news would be carried to M'tese immediately； and
the fact of so great a curiosity and treasure being on the road to him
would at once open a communication。
On 8th May； the prisoners of Suleiman's company； numbering twenty…five
persons； came to the divan； headed by Ali Genninar； and supplicated
forgiveness。 They all declared their desire to be registered on the
government books as irregular troops。
I had already witnessed an example of their duplicity； therefore I had
no confidence in their professions； but at the same time I did not know
what to do with them。 The fact of their being in custody required twenty
soldiers to re