He was to supply them with
corn, and to yield the same obedience to Major Abdullah as he would to
me. I gave him nine yards of red cotton cloth, six pounds of beads, two
razors, one comb, two horn snakes in boxes, one knife, one burning
glass, one zinc mirror, two nickel spoons, three rods of thick brass
wire, two finger rings, two pair of ear-rings, two red and yellow cotton
handkerchiefs.
The total value of this extensive present was about twenty-one
shillings.
Before he had arrived, he had requested that a goat might be sent to be
slaughtered at a stream before he should cross over; otherwise bad luck
would attend his visit. Of course this was acceded to, and the goat was
sacrificed and eaten by his people.
I gave him, according to my usual custom with all sheiks and headmen,
seeds of the best Egyptian cotton, tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers,
water-melons, sweet-melons, barmian, maize, &c., &c.
Before parting, I amused and shocked him with the magnetic battery, and
he went away surprised and delighted.
I subsequently discovered that a large quantity of flour, together with
some fowls which he had forwarded to me, had been stopped and
appropriated by the renowned Ali Hussein. The intriguing spirit of these
slave-hunters was extraordinary. It is their custom never to receive a
sheik unless he brings a present. He therefore considered that if Rot
Jarma should appear for the first time before me empty-handed, I should
either not admit him, or perhaps be prejudiced against him; thus he had
stolen the customary gift of introduction in order to create ill-will on
my part towards Rot Jarma, who had never yet condescended to visit the
station of Abou Saood . . . . .
Wat-el-Ajoos, with the assistance of Shooli and Gimoro, had collected
200 carriers, all of whom had received each a cow.
I had assorted the luggage, and although I had not the slightest
suspicion of any fighting, nevertheless my ammunition formed a
considerable portion of the heavier baggage.
Major Abdullah had received his instructions, and a site had been chosen
for his station within a hundred yards of the south extremity of that of
Abou Saood. This position was backed by a high rock, upon which I had
already commenced to build a powder magazine of solid masonry.
Abou Saood having as usual sworn upon the eyes and head of the Prophet
to do all that was right and virtuous, and the natives throughout the
country being confident of protection, I prepared for the journey to
Unyoro - a distance across the uninhabited prairies of seventy-eight
miles from Fatiko, due south.
Our excellent and trusty friend Shooli was to be our guide. Gimoro was
prevented from accompanying us owing to a wounded foot.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MARCH TO UNYORO.
On 18th March, 1872, we were all in order for the march to the south,
under the direction of our guide, Shooli.
Having taken leave of Major Abdullah, I left him a good supply of sheep
and cattle for his detachment, and at 2 p.m. we started for the prairie
march to Unyoro.
The descent from the table land of Fatiko was rapid for the first seven
miles, at which point we reached a stream of clear running water, which
is one of the channels of the Un-y-Ame river.
The limit of the inhabited country is about three miles from the camp at
Fatiko, after which all is wilderness to Unyoro.
This fertile country has been left uninhabited, on account of the
disturbance occasioned by the diversity of tribes. On the east it is
bounded by Umiro, on the south by Unyoro, and on the west by Madi. This
large tract of land, about eighty miles from north to south, is
accordingly the resort of wild animals, and it forms the favourite
hunting-ground of the various tribes, who generally come into conflict
with each other during their excursions in pursuit of game.
We halted for the night at the clear stream of the Un-y-Ame, as the
native carriers expected their wives to bring them provisions for the
journey. It was only five o'clock, therefore I strolled along the banks
of the stream accompanied by Shooli, and shortly came upon game.
At this season the country was very lovely, as the young grass was
hardly a foot high. Stalking was extremely difficult, as the land was
clear of trees, and the long sweeping undulations exposed every object
to view when upon the face of the inclines. I managed at length to get a
tolerable shot at one of the beautiful teel antelopes (Leucotis), by
creeping up the broken bed of a water-course until I arrived at a
white-ant hill. On my way home I shot a gazelle, thus the natives all
had flesh from the two animals on the first night of the march.
The wives appeared to be excellent women, as they arrived in great
numbers with a quantity of hard porridge made of dhurra flour, which was
to form the commissariat for a journey of nearly 160 miles to Unyoro and
back.
If a native travels through wilderness, he will always make forced
marches, thus the Fatikos would only sleep one night upon the road of
seventy-eight miles when on the return journey.
On the following morning, we were rather late in starting, as more women
arrived with food, and certain farewells took place.
