Kabba Rega discovered a great
number of Kabba Regas in the endless reflections of the two opposite
mirrors. This was a great wonder that attracted particular attention.
It was then discovered that every person was multiplied in a similar
manner! This was of course "cojoor" (magic). It was difficult to draw
them away from the looking glasses, but at length the pictures were
examined. The Queen was exhibited and explained, and I described her
subjects to be as numerous as the white ants in Unyoro. The Princess of
Wales was a three-quarter face; and they immediately asked "why she had
only one ear?" The same question of unity was asked respecting the leg
of a man in a red coat on a white horse.
Every lady's portrait was minutely examined, but to our great
satisfaction, that of the Princess was declared by general consent to be
the most lovely.
I was much struck with this exhibition of good taste, as the other
portraits were pretty faces, but the hair and dresses were gaudily
ornamented, whereas that of the Princess of Wales was exceedingly
simple; the dress being an evening gown of white satin.
I should have suspected that natives would have preferred the gaudy
attire, without bestowing sufficient admiration on the features.
Kabba Rega now asked "why the women in the various portraits all looked
at him?" wherever he moved, their eyes followed him.
His chiefs now discovered that the faces in the pictures were also
looking at them; and the eyes followed them whether they moved to the
right or left! This was cojoor, or magic, which at first made them feel
uncomfortable.
One of my wife's female servants, Wat-el-Kerreem, would never remain by
herself in this room, for fear of "the eyes that stared at her."
Everything that we possessed was now minutely scrutinized. The guns and
rifles of various breechloading mechanism were all displayed and
admired. Kabba Rega thoughtfully asked "which of them I had intended for
him?" His uncle, Rahonka, exclaimed - "You have done wisely in bringing
all those guns as presents for Kabba Rega." My visitors were quite
charmed. The musical box played various delightful airs, and it was
remarked that it would be more convenient than an instrument which
required the study of learning, as "you might set this going at night to
play you to sleep, when you were too drunk to play an instrument
yourself; even if you knew how to do it."
This was my young friend Kabba Rega's idea of happiness - to go to sleep
drunk, assisted by the strains of self-playing melody.
Of course, the large musical box was asked for; and, of course, I
promised to give it as a present from the Khedive of Egypt, if I found
that Kabba Rega conducted himself properly.
My wife's trinkets, &c., were now begged for; but it was explained that
such things were private property belonging to the Sit (lady). "The Sit!
the Sit! the Sit!" the young cub peevishly exclaimed; "everything that
is worth having seems to belong to THE SIT!"
A small and beautifully-made revolver, with seven chambers, now
attracted his attention. "Does this also belong to the Sit?" inquired
Kabba Rega. "Yes, that is the Sit's own little revolver," was the reply;
at which the young king burst out laughing, saying, "Do women also carry
arms in your country? I see everything belongs to the Sit!"
My wife now gave him some of the finest Venetian beads, of which we only
had a few dozen. These were much prized. He was then presented with a
handsome gilt bracelet, set with four large French emeralds. This was a
treasure such as he had never seen. He also received a few strings of
fine imitation pearls.
After much delay and vexatious demands for everything that he saw, we at
length got rid of our visitor.
I had explained to Kabba Rega the intended ceremony of hoisting the flag
in the name of the Khedive, and that the country would be in future
under the protection of Egypt, but that he should remain as the
representative of the government. He seemed highly pleased at the idea
of protection and presents, and expressed himself as very anxious to
witness the ceremony. . . . . . . On the 14th May, 1872, I took formal
possession of Unyoro in the name of the Khedive of Egypt.
I recalled to the recollection of Kabba Rega and his chiefs the day
when, many years ago, I had hoisted the British flag, and thus I had
turned back the invading force of Wat-el-Mek, and saved Unyoro. I now
declared that the country and its inhabitants would be protected by the
Ottoman flag in the same manner that it had been shielded by the Union
Jack of England.
There was a tall flag-staff fixed at the east end of the government
house.
The bugle sounded the "taboor," the troops fell in, the irregulars (late
slave-hunters) formed in line with that charming irregularity which is
generally met with in such rude levies.
Kabba Rega had received due notice, and he quickly appeared, attended by
about a thousand people.
The band played; Kabba Rega's drums and horns sounded, and the troops
formed a hollow square to listen to a short address.
Kabba Rega was invited within the square; and the men faced about with
fixed bayonets, as though prepared to receive cavalry. It was now
explained to the young king that this formation defended all sides from
attack at the same time. He seemed more interested in getting out again,
than in the explanation of military tactics. He evidently had suspicions
that he was fairly entrapped when he found himself in the middle of the
square.
The flag was now hoisted with due formality; the usual military salutes
took place; volleys were fired; and the crowd at length dispersed,
leaving the Ottoman flag waving in a strong breeze at the head of the
flag-staff.
