"The cunning Abou Saood has never told them of the expiration of the
government contract with Agad & Co., neither had they any warning of my
expected arrival.
"I explained the exact state of affairs.
"The principal sheik of the district, with many people, came to see me.
The chief, Quonga, was one of my old acquaintances, and was formerly the
favourite adviser of Kamrasi.
"Kamrasi died about two years ago. His sons fought for the succession,
and each aspirant sought the aid of the traders. This civil strife
exactly suited the interests of the treacherous Khartoumers. The several
companies of slave-hunters scattered over the Madi, Shooli, and Unyoro
countries represented only one interest, that of their employers, Agad
and Co.
"Each company, commanded by its independent vakeel, arrived in Unyoro,
and supported the cause of each antagonistic pretender to the throne,
and treacherously worked for the ruin of all, excepting him who would be
able to supply the largest amount of ivory and slaves.
"The favourite sons of Kamrasi were Kabba Rega and Kabka Miro, while the
old enemy of the family, Rionga, the cousin of Kamrasi, again appeared
upon the scene.
"The companies of Abou Saood supported all three, receiving ivory and
slaves from each as the hire of mercenary troops; and at length they
played out their game by shooting Kabka Miro, and securing the throne to
Kabba Rega.
"They arranged with Rionga that he should be ostensibly banished to a
convenient distance, to be ready as a trump card, should occasion
require, against the new king, Kabba Rega.
"I explained the new reform to Quonga, and I gave him the following
presents for Kabba Rega, who resides about six days' march south-west of
this spot: -
"One piece entire of Turkey red cloth, one piece grey calico, twelve
pounds of beads of the finest varieties, three zinc mirrors, two razors,
one long butcher's knife, two pair scissors, one brass bugle, one German
horn, two pieces of red and yellow handkerchiefs, one piece of yellow
ditto, one peacock Indian scarf, one blue blanket, six German silver
spoons, sixteen pairs of various car-rings, twelve finger-rings, two
dozen mule harness bells, six elastic heavy brass spring wires, one
pound long white horsehair, three combs, one papier-mache tray, one
boxwood fife, one kaleidoscope.
"I proclaimed upon all sides that the reign of terror was ended. As I
formerly, when alone, had defended Kamrasi, and driven out the invaders
under Wat-el-Mek, by hoisting the English ensign, so now I would take
the country under my protection with a powerful force.
"I gave Quonga and all his sheiks presents of beads, and shocked them
powerfully with the magnetic battery, leaving a strong impression.
"March 24.-I wrote officially to Suleiman, the vakeel of Agad & Co., to
give him warning 'that sixteen days hence the contract would expire, and
that he and all his people must be ready to evacuate the country and
return to Khartoum on that day. That any person who should remain after
this notice would be imprisoned. That, should he or any of his people
wish to enlist in the service of the government as irregular troops,
their names must be handed in before the expiration of two days.'
"Suleiman declared his willingness to enlist together with Eddrees and
several others.
"He told me that nothing could be procured in the country. Thank God I
left a good reputation here seven years ago; thus I shall be able to
purchase food.
"This morning my old acquaintance, Keedja, formerly chief of Atada, came
to see me with many of his people, and with perfect confidence they
commenced a trade, bringing provisions in exchange for beads. They
promised to arrive to-morrow, and to establish a daily market at our
camp.
"Keedja explains that he and his people have been obliged to fly from
the depredations of the companies of Abou Saood, thus they have settled
in the forest on the north side of the river, and have cultivated farms.
They have very few clothes, as their bark-cloth trees are on the south
side of the river in their old plantations.
"All the people declare they will now return to their old habitations
and re-cultivate the land as in former days.
"I found that the natives who ran from us on the march, and dropped
their elephant spears, were Keedja's people, thus I returned to them the
three spears and an axe, to their great astonishment. (A party of
native hunters had been scared during our march by our sudden
appearance.)
"The elephant spears were of a kind used from trees. The blade is about
twenty inches long, the handle about twenty-four inches. The end of the
handle is heavily weighted with a lump of several pounds, composed of
clay, cow-dung, and chopped straw, and the weapon, beautifully
sharpened, is dropped upon the elephant's back by a hunter from the
branches of a tree. The constant movement of the heavy handle as it
strikes the boughs when the elephant rushes through the forest, cuts the
animal so terribly that it bleeds to death. The hunters follow on the
blood track until they find the dying animal.
"March 25. - Suleiman, the vakeel, summoned his men to volunteer for the
government service as irregular troops.
"I issued a written proclamation, that should volunteers enlist, the
term of service would be annual, subject to three months' notice, should
any officer or private wish to retire at the expiration of twelve
months.
"The rank of the vakeel would be equivalent to that of major in the
regular army.
"The pay would be equal to that of regular troops.
