Rahonka, Lokara, Quonga,
Matonse, and other principal chiefs, were summoned to witness the
impotence of the Pacha's power to save; and to see with their own eyes
the defiance that Suleiman would exhibit to the orders of a Christian.
"Now let the natives clasp the knees of the Pacha and defy the power of
Suleiman!"
The ruffian drew his sabre, and with his own hand, in the presence of a
crowd of witnesses, he hacked off the head of the unfortunate prisoner,
and thus publicly ridiculed my authority.
In the mean time, while this murder was being committed, we were
travelling onward without a suspicion of treachery. (It will be seen how
by degrees I became acquainted with the crime and designs of Suleiman,
who had already secretly forwarded instructions to his men at Masindi at
the same time that he had communicated in his rear with Abou Saood at
Fatiko.)
Accompanied by Lady Baker, I rode at the head of the party with my usual
advanced guard of five picked men of "The Forty." Lieutenant Baker
walked on foot, as he wished to save his horse's back that was slightly
galled.
We rode far in advance, as there was no danger to be apprehended in this
country, and my five guards with knapsacks, small axes, and general
accoutrements, kept the pace of four miles an hour for about twenty-one
miles to Kisoona. The march had been through forest, and grass about
four feet in height, which was now growing vigorously after the recent
showers. The large trees were covered with orchids, among which I
noticed a peculiar species which hung from the boughs like an apron.
This was exceedingly pretty, as the leaf was about eighteen inches in
breadth, the edges were scalloped and of a copper-brown colour, while
the upper portion was dark green.
The whole country had been desolated by civil war, in which the
companions of Abou Saood had taken a prominent part, and had carried off
a great number of the women.
Kisoona was a poor straggling place in the centre of the forest; but
although the beehive-shaped huts were far apart, there was the usual
amount of filth and ashes that disgrace the villages of Unyoro. A very
large plantation of bananas afforded food for the inhabitants, all of
whom seemed to have disappeared.
Throughout Unyoro the soil is exceedingly rich; the tobacco gardens
exhibited an extreme luxuriance, and the size of the leaves formed a
great contrast to the plants in the hot soil of the Bari country.
I placed a sentry over the tobacco, and cautioned the troops against
stealing or in any way damaging the crops.
A native of Umiro travelled as our interpreter.
