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remaining until the affair had been thoroughly explained。
It was then discovered that he had returned all the muskets to
Abd…el…Kader； except five； which were not forthcoming。
I requested him in future to adhere more strictly to the truth； as it
was a disgrace for a man in his position to tell a falsehood； which
would render it impossible for me to place implicit confidence in him；
at the same time I insisted upon the immediate return of the guns；
together with the cartouche…belts and ammunition。
The young king retired in great confusion and stilled anger； with a
promise that everything should be restored！
In the afternoon he sent five wretched old muskets that had been injured
in the stocks； and repaired with the raw hide of crocodiles。 These had
never belonged to the irregulars； but he had kept their good guns； and
hoped to exchange these wretched weapons； which had been given some
years ago to Kamrasi by the vakeel； Ibrahim。
I spoke very strongly to Kittakara； his favourite minister； and
explained to him the folly and discredit of such conduct。
Kittakara replied： 〃Is not Kabba Rega your son？ Do you begrudge him a
few good guns and ammunition taken from your late enemies； the
slave…hunters？〃
It was in vain that I endeavoured to explain that these people were
subjects of the Khedive； and had now received forgiveness： therefore； as
they were engaged as irregulars they must receive their arms。 Kittakara
simply replied： 〃Do you believe in these people？ Do you think that；
because they have now enlisted through fear； they will ever change their
natures？〃
I asked him 〃if soap would wash the black spots from a leopard's skin？〃
but I explained that I could strip the skin at once off the leopard； and
should quickly change their natures。
Day after day passed； and the ammunition was only returned in driblets；
after constant and most urgent demands。
On 21st May I sent word to Kabba Rega （who had declined to appear in
public or private） that if he persisted in this deception I should
myself be compelled to return to Fatiko； as it would be impossible for
me to hold communications with any person in whom I could place no
confidence。
In the event of my departure from Unyoro he knew the consequences。 He
would be ridiculed by Rionga； who would join the slave…hunters and
attack him should I withdraw my protection。 On the south he would be
invaded by M'tese； who would imagine that Kabba Rega had prevented me
from visiting him； thus his country would be utterly ruined。
The chiefs； Neka； Kittakara； and Matonse； to whom I spoke； appeared
thoroughly to comprehend the position。
During the day the five missing guns were returned； together with the
goatskin bag （chorab）； containing much of the missing ammunitionsome
of which had been abstracted。
On 23rd May I sent off the party to Fatiko； together with the
postincluding letters to Egypt； Khartoum； and England； to be forwarded
by first opportunity。 （These never arrived in England。）
I wrote to Wat…el…Mek to offer him the command of an irregular corps of
400 men； which he was to raise immediately from those companies that
were now thrown out of employment by the termination of the contract
with Agad & Co。
I sent written instructions to Major Abdullah to arrest Abou Saood； and
to liberate all the Unyoro slaves in the possession of his people。 He
was then to forward Abou Saood； together with Suleiman； as prisoners； to
the care of Raouf Bey at Gondokoro； and to march himself with his
detachment and all effects； together with the liberated slaves； to
Foweera。
Three hundred natives accompanied my party from Unyoro to transport the
baggage of Major Abdullah。
I had not seen Kabba Rega since the day when he had lied concerning the
possession of the muskets and ammunition。 Whether from shame or anger I
could not tell； but he declined to appear。
The party started with the post； thus reducing my force by the departure
of thirty…six men； including eleven regulars and twenty…five of the new
irregular levy。
I was now left with one hundred regulars； four sailors； and four armed
Baris。
CHAPTER XX。
ESTABLISH COMMERCE。
For some time past the natives had commenced a brisk trade with ivory in
exchange for all kinds of trifles； which left a minimum profit for the
government of 1500 per cent。 A few beads； together with three or four
gaudy…coloured cotton handkerchiefs； a zinc mirror； and a fourpenny
butcher's knife； would purchase a tusk worth twenty or thirty pounds。 I
calculated all the expenses of transport from England； together with
interest on capital。 In some cases we purchased ivory at 2；000 per cent。
profit； and both sellers and buyers felt perfectly contented。
I am not sure whether this is considered a decent return for an
investment of capital among the descendants of Israel； but I am
convinced that at the conclusion of a purchase in Unyoro each party to
the bargain thought that he had the best of it。 This was the perfection
of business。
Here was free trade thoroughly established： the future was tinged with a
golden hue。 Ivory would be almost inexhaustible； as it would flow from
both east and west to the market where such luxuries as twopenny
mirrors； fourpenny knives； handkerchiefs； ear…rings at a penny a pair；
finger signet…rings at a shilling a dozen； could be obtained for such
comparatively useless lumber as elephants' tusks。
Manchester goods would quickly supersede the bark…cloths； which were
worn out in a month； and； in a few years； every native of Unyoro would
be able to appear in durable European clothes。 Every man would be able
to provide himself with a comfortable blanket for the chilly nights； and
an important trade would be opened that would tend to the development of
the country； and be the first step towards a future civilization。
Unfortunately for this golden vision； the young king； Kabba Rega；
considered that he had a right to benefit himself exclusively； by
monopolizing the trade with the government。 He therefore gave orders to
his people that all ivory should be brought to him； and he strictly
prohibited； on pain of death； the free trade that I had endeavoured to
establish。
The tusks ceased to arrive； or； if any individual was sufficiently
audacious to run the risk of detection； he sent word beforehand； by
Monsoor （who was known to be confidential）； that he would bring a tusk
for sale during the darkness of night。
This was a troublesome affair。 Annexation is always a difficult question
of absolute right； but； as I trust my readers will acknowledge； I had
done all that lay in my power for the real benefit of the country。 I had
to make allowance for the young king； who now had become a vassal； and I
determined to observe the extreme of moderation。
It was generally acknowledged that the conduct of the troops was most
exemplary。 No thefts had been allowed； nor even those trifling
annexations of property which are distinguished from stealing by the
innocent name of 〃cribbing。〃 Not a garden had been disturbed； the
tempting tobacco plantations had been rigidly respected； and the natives
could only regard my troops as the perfection of