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a trigger at a native； thus the arrival of a white man in these
countries would be regarded without suspicion。
In my present expedition I had always endeavoured to preserve peace；
but； as this work will show； I was in every instance forced to war in
absolute self…defence。 I was therefore determined not to attack Rionga；
unless he should presume to defy the government。
In reply to Kabba Rega and his chiefs； who all had joined in the
argument； I declared that I would find means to establish peace； and
that Rionga would assuredly come to terms。 Nothing would induce me to
use force against him or any other person； unless absolutely necessary。
I suggested to Kabba Rega that he should for a moment change positions
with Rionga。 What would his feelings be should I wantonly attack him；
simply because I had been requested to do so by his enemy？
No argument was of any avail。 Kabba Rega replied； 〃You were my father's
friend and brother： your wife was the same。 You drove back the
slave…hunters under Wat…el…Mek by hoisting your flag。 Since you left us；
the slave…hunters have returned and ruined the country。 My father is
dead； but Rionga is still alive。 Now you are my father； and your wife is
my mother： will you allow your son's enemy to live？〃
It was quite useless to attempt reason with this hardened young fellow；
who had not an idea of mercy in his disposition。 As he had murdered his
own relatives by the foulest treachery； so he would of course destroy
any person who stood in his way。 I therefore changed the conversation to
Abou Saood。
Kabba Rega and his sheiks all agreed that he had arrived here some time
ago in a very miserable plight； exceedingly dirty； and riding upon a
donkey。 He was without baggage of any kind； and he introduced himself by
giving a present to Kabba Rega of an old； battered metal basin and jug；
in which he washed； together with a very old and worn…out small carpet；
upon which he was accustomed to sit。 With these magnificent presents he
declared that he was 〃the son of a sultan； who had come to visit the
king of Unyoro。〃
Kabba Rega had replied that 〃he did not believe it； as he had heard that
he was simply a trader。〃
Reports had reached Unyoro that I had arrived at Gondokoro； and that I
was on my way to visit Kamrasi； and to explore the Albert N'yanza；
therefore Kabba Rega had questioned Abou Saood concerning me。
〃Oh；〃 Abou Saood replied； 〃that man whom we call 'the traveller'？ Oh
yes； he was a very good fellow indeed； but he is dead。 He died long ago。
The Pacha is a very different person； and I hope he will never be able
to reach this country。 If he does； it will be a bad time for YOU。〃
〃Indeed！〃 replied Kabba Rega。 〃I heard that the Pacha and the traveller；
the friend of my father； were the same person。〃
〃You have been deceived；〃 said Abou Saood。 〃The Pacha is not like the
traveller； or any other man。 He is a monster with three separate heads；
in each of which are six eyesthree upon each side。 Thus with
eighteen eyes he can see everything and every country at once。 He has
three enormous mouths； which are furnished with teeth like those of a
crocodile； and he devours human flesh。 He has already killed and eaten
the Bari people and destroyed their country。 Should he arrive here； he
will pull you from the throne and seize your kingdom。 You must fight
him； and by no means allow him to cross the river at Foweera。 My
soldiers will fight him on the road from Gondokoro； as will all the
natives of the country： but I don't think he will be able to leave
Gondokoro； as he has a large amount of baggage； _and I have told the
Baris not to transport it：thus he will have no carriers。〃
This was the actual report that Abou Saood had given to Kabba Rega； as
the dragoman Umbogo had been the interpreter； in the presence of
Mohammed； my old Cairo dragoman。
I laughed outright at this absurdity： at the same time it corroborated
all that I had already heard of Abou Saood's treachery。 I immediately
asked Kabba Rega if he was satisfied now that he had seen me？ He
replied； 〃Abou Saood is a liar； and you are Kamrasi's friend； and my
father： therefore you will； I am sure； assist me； and relieve me from my
great enemy； Rionga。 I shall then know that you are indeed my true
friend。〃
Once more it was necessary to change the conversation。 A number of
buffoons that were kept about the court for the amusement of the young
king now came forward。 The crowd was driven back； and an open space
having been thus cleared； they performed a curious theatrical scene；
followed by a general fight with clubs； until one man； having knocked
down all the party； remained the victor。 The scene terminated with an
act of disgusting indecency； which created roars of laughter from the
immense crowd； who evidently considered this was the great joke of the
piece。
〃Kabba Rega now took leave； and retired as he had before arrived； with
drums； whistles； horns； flageolets； making a horrid din 。 。 。 。〃
The spot that I had selected for a station was at the southern edge of
the town； from which site the land sloped into a valley about a hundred
feet below。 I had at once commenced clearing away the high grass； and；
as usual when first settling； I had broken up a few small plots； and had
already sown seeds of English cucumbers； sweet melons； &c。
The soil was wonderfully rich； at the same time it was very easily
worked。 When the tall rank grass was torn out by the roots； a fine
surface was exposed that resembled dark chocolate。 This was a vegetable
loam； with a minimum of two feet thickness； resting upon a bright red
quartz gravel。
The quartz was not rounded； and appeared to be only the residue of
decayed rock that had never been subjected to the action of running
water。 When washed； a handful remained of sharp and clear white
fragments。
With such a subsoil the country must be healthy； as the heaviest shower
drained rapidly through the gravel。
I employed the prisoners in clearing the grass； while the soldiers
commenced cultivation； and dug up the ground with a number of hoes that
I borrowed from Kabba Rega。
These implements are nearly the same in shape as those in Gondokoro and
throughout the Madi country； but smaller； and the iron is very brittle
and inferior。 They are not used like the Dutch hoe； with a long handle；
but are fixed upon a piece of wood with a bend of natural growth； so the
hoe can be used with a downward stroke like a pick…axe。
On 29th April I commenced building a government house and public divan。
The king of Uganda （M'tese） has envoys throughout the countries which
surround his dominions。 One of these chiefs； who represented M'tese at
Masindi； paid me a visit； and gave me a good deal of information。
He described the M'wootan N'zige （Albert N'yanza） as forming the western
frontier of Karagwe； from which point it turned westward for a distance
unknown。 This was a similar description to that given by Kamrasi some
years ago。
I gave the envoy a red and yellow handkerchief to tie around his head。
The man was neatly dressed in Indian clothes that had arrived from
Bombay via Zanzibar。
On 30th April； Kabba Rega sent a presen