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smoked and dried。
We slept in our old camp； and early on the following morning we prepared
to cross the river。
Rionga's people did not quite trust the inhabitants on the other side； I
accordingly sent a strong party of rifles across first to occupy the
high rocky landing…place。
On the return of the canoes； we were just preparing to cross with the
remainder of the party； when I observed eight natives walking very fast
along the forest…covered cliff on the other side。 We immediately gave
the alarm to our men who occupied the rocks。 The telescope now
discovered that the arrangement of the hair of these natives was the
fashion of Shooli and Fatiko。
The eight strangers； who had not before observed us； now halted in
astonishment； and presently they shouted in good Arabic
〃Are you the Pacha's soldiers？ We are sent by Abdullah to look for the
Pacha！〃
This was great good fortune； then Abdullah was alive； and I hoped my
detachment was all right！
We crossed the broad river； and upon close arrival； we discovered that
two of the messengers were well known to us； one of whom was Iarro； the
interpreter of the great sheik； Rot Jarma。
The first gleam of pleasure with which I had welcomed these messengers
quickly changed to considerable anxiety。
I was now informed that the attempt to destroy us by poison； and
subsequently by a treacherous attack at Masindi； was mainly due to the
intrigues of Abou Saood； who had originally advised Kabba Rega to resist
me should I arrive in his country。 This traitor Abou Saood had
considered that we should be certainly massacred when once in the heart
of Unyoro。 He had therefore assumed a despotic command of Fatiko and all
the neighbouring countries shortly after my departure； and he had given
orders ‘ to the natives and to the sheik； Rot Jarma； that 〃no supplies
of corn should be provided for Major Abdullah's troops。〃
Rot Jarma had been faithful to the government； and his people had
carried corn to Major Abdullah。 Abou Saood had therefore ordered his men
to attack Rot Jarma。 They had accordingly surprised him while believing
in the protection of the government； and had captured his cattle；
together with a number of slaves。 In that attack the brigands had lost
five men； whose guns had been subsequently taken to Kabba Rega for sale
by the natives we had seen at Masindi。
Abou Saood then； enraged at the loss of five men； together with their
guns； had sent for Wat…el…Mek from Faloro； and had given him the command
above the well…known Ali Hussein； with orders to carry fire and sword
through the country。
Major Abdullah had vainly expostulated。 Abou Saood had personally
threatened him； and Ali Hussein and an officer named Lazim； with some
others； had gone armed into the government camp； and had actually seized
natives who had taken refuge with Abdullah； from whose house they were
thus dragged by force in defiance of authority。
When the news arrived from Foweera that I had punished Suleiman for the
murder of the prisoner； both Abou Saood and his people had declared；
that they 〃would secure Major Abdullah in a forked pole； or sheba； and
treat hiin in a similar manner。〃 They had also threatened to attack the
government camp。
Major Abdullah had written to me at Masindi requesting instructions； he
had intrusted the letter to a native of Faieera。 This man had most
unfortunately arrived at Masindi late in the evening upon which the
troops had been poisoned。 On the following morning he was a witness to
the murder of poor Monsoor and Ferritch Bagara； and when the general
action commenced； he climbed up a tree at no great distance from the
station； and cried out that 〃he was the bearer of a letter from
Abdullah。〃
The bullets whizzed so thickly about him that he descended from his
post； and then； being alarmed lest he might be killed by the natives
should his mission be discovered； he had run away as fast as possible；
and returned 160 miles to Fatiko。 Thus I never received Major Abdullah's
letter。
The letter…carrier having seen our handful of men surrounded by many
thousands of the enemy in Masindi； and knowing that the perfect
organization of Unyoro would bring countless enemies upon us； who would
occupy the routes by ambuscades； had considered our position hopeless。
The report was spread 〃that we were all destroyed：〃 thus Abou Saood was
delighted。
Some days later； my party arrived at Fatiko that had left Masindi on the
23rd May with the post； together with the prisoner Suleiman。
These people had suffered terribly； and had lost eleven men killed；
exclusive of one who had died on the way from fatigue。
The treacherous plan arranged by Kabba Rega had failed； and the natives
had attacked them before the time appointed。 This will be described
hereafter。
Suleiman was no longer a prisoner； but he commanded the Fabbo station
for Abou Saood。
Wat…el…Mek had received my letter； and he wished to serve the
government； but Abou Saood had prevented him； and now that I was
supposed to be dead； it would be impossible。
This man； Wat…el…Mek； had nevertheless behaved well； as he had
immediately demanded 100 men from Abou Saood； and fifty men from
Abdullah； in order to march to Unyoro； join Rionga； and with a native
army he would have searched for us throughout the country。
Abou Saood had refused to give the 100 men； therefore we had been left
to our fate。
The result of the story was that I must hurry on to Fatiko； Rot Jarma
had sent his messengers to discover me whether dead or alive； and should
I not march quickly； Abdullah might be attacked and overpowered； and the
slave…hunters would possess themselves of all the ammunition and stores。
。 。 。 This was not very refreshing news； after all the troubles we had
gone through。
Had I received this important intelligence during my stay with Rionga； I
should not have left Colonel Abd…el…Kader with sixty men behind me。 It
would not do to waste time by halting： and should I send to recall
Abd…el…Kader immediately after my departure； the effect upon Rionga
would create suspicion。 The withdrawal of the troops would destroy all
confidence on the part of his native allies。
I gave the order to march forward at once。
My horse； Jamoos； now the only survivor of all those that I brought from
Cairo； was in good condition； but he suffered from a woeful sore back；
occasioned by the heavy load that he had carried from Masindi。 My wife
was therefore obliged to walk； as the mud was too deep for the solitary
donkey； who was weak and ill。
For more than a mile and a half we had to wade through flooded marshes
nearly hip deep； the heavy rains had made the country boggy and
unpleasant。
We had one sheep for the journey of seventy…nine miles； but this was
missing upon the second day's march； and we subsequently discovered that
it had been stolen and eaten by our guide and the carriers supplied by
Rionga。 We were thus reduced to dried fish in the place of our lost
mutton； for which we felt inclined to go into mourning。
Although we had been badly fed of late； and for twenty…three days had
been without solid animal food （since the march from Masindi）； we were