ismailia-第96节

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Suleiman。　I　had　kept　these　people　with　me；　as　they　knew　something　about
the　country　and　the　Unyoros。　They　were　all　armed　and　were　tolerably　good
shots。　One　of　these　fellows　（Molodi）；　a　native　of　the　Madi　country；　was
extremely　useful　and　intelligent。　He　now　told　me　that　I　could　never
depend　upon　Kabba　Rega；　and　that　he　had　simply　begged　me　to　send　the
irregulars　out　of　the　country　in　order　that　I　should　not　hear　the　truth
of　his　former　conduct　from　them；　also；　in　their　absence；　I　should　be
quite　ignorant　of　the　paths　that　were　now　completely　overgrown　with
immensely　high　grass　throughout　the　country。

An　incident　occurred　on　the　31st　May　which　caused　me　serious　anxiety。

The　station　was　in　complete　order：　the　cultivation　was　thriving；　and　the
general　appearance　of　the　government　settlement　was　a　strong　contrast　to
the　surrounding　wilderness　of　high　grass；　and　the　large　and　dirty　town
of　Masindi。

My　troops　were　now　without　occupation；　therefore　I　instructed　Colonel
Abd…el…Kader　to　drill　them　every　morning。

It　had　been　the　daily　practice　of　the　band　to　march　up　and　down　the
broad　approach；　and　to　perform　nearly　opposite　Kabba　Rega's　public
divan。

There　was　no　clear　place　in　which　the　troops　could　be　drilled；　except　in
the　public　square　at　the　back　of　Kabba　Rega's　divan；　this　was　about　the
centre　of　the　town。

The　square　was　an　open　space　of　about　two　acres；　and　was　the　spot　at
which　all　public　festivities　were　held；　and　where；　upon　many　occasions；
Kabba　Rega　delighted　to　sit；　in　a　large　open　shed；　to　witness　the　absurd
performance　of　his　buffoons。

This　open　space　was　well　adapted　for　the　exercise　of　a　company　of
troops。　I　therefore　ordered　the　men　on　parade；　and　I　accompanied　them
myself　together　with　Lieutenant　Baker。

The　band　played；　as　usual；　at　the　head　of　the　company；　and　we　marched
through　the　town　to　the　open　square。

Here　the　troops　were　put　through　their　musketry　drill；　and　commenced
various　evolutions。

To　my　astonishment；　I　saw　the　natives　hurrying　off　in　all　directions。　I
was　perfectly　unarmed；　as　were　also　the　officers　（excepting　their　side
arms）　and　Lieutenant　Baker。

Almost　immediately　the　huge　war…drum　sounded　in　the　house　of　Kabba　Rega；
and　the　dull　hollow　notes　continued　to　beat　the　alarm！

In　less　than　ten　minutes；　horns　were　blowing　and　drums　were　beating　in
all　directions；　and　with　extraordinary　rapidity；　some　five　or　six
thousand　men　came　pouring　down　from　every　quarter；　fully　armed　with
spears　and　shields；　in　a　state　of　frantic　excitement；　and　at　once
surrounded　the　troops。　Fresh　bands　of　natives；　all　of　whom　were　in　their
costume　of　war；　continued　to　concentrate　from　every　side。　The　crowd　of
warriors　leapt　and　gesticulated　around　my　little　company　of　men　as
though　about　to　attack。

I　immediately　gave　the　order　to　form　a　square　with　fixed　bayonets。　This
manoeuvre　puzzled　the　natives　extremely。

They　danced　around　the　square；　within　a　few　feet　of　the　glistening　row
of　bayonet…points；　which　were　lowered　so　as　to　form　an　impenetrable
fence。

The　officers　were　of　course　inside　the　square。　I　gave　the　men　strict
orders　not　to　fire　under　any　provocation；　unless　I　gave　the　word　of
command；　and　attended　by　Lieutenant　Baker　and　Monsoor；　the　latter　with
his　sword　drawn；　I　left　the　square；　and　walked　into　the　middle　of　the
crowd；　towards　the　three　chiefs；　Rahonka；　Kittakara；　and　Matonse；　who
were　all　standing　with　lances　in　their　hands；　and　apparently　prepared
for　action。

Although　the　situation　was　full　of　meaning；　I　thought　the　best　policy
was　to　appear　amused。　At　this　moment　Monsoor　struck　up　with　his　sword；　a
lance；　which　one　of　the　frantic　warriors；　in　the　midst　of　his　wild
gesticulations；　had　advanced　within　a　few　inches　of　my　back。

The　interpreters　（many　of　whom　I　knew　well）　were　all　armed　with　muskets；
and　the　bonosoora　were　dressed　in　their　usual　fantastic　manner　when
prepared　for　war；　a　considerable　number　were　provided　with　guns。

The　slightest　accident　would　have　caused　a　general　outbreak　of
hostilities。　I　had　eighty　men　on　the　ground；　the　remainder　of　the　force
were　at　the　station；　about　three　hundred　yards　distant；　where　Lady
Baker；　and　all　stores　and　ammunition；　would　have　been　in　extreme　danger；
had　an　attack　become　general。

I　at　once　walked　up　to　Rahonka　and　Kittakara；　and　calling　an
interpreter；　named　Kadji…Barri；　who　was　standing　near　them；　dressed　in
Arab　clothes；　with　his　musket　in　his　hand；　and　his　cartouche…belt　on　his
waist；　I　burst　out　laughing；　and　exclaimed：　〃Well　done；　Kadji…Barri！
this　is　famously　managed；　let　us　have　a　general　dance。　Ash　Kitiakitri　if
my　band　shall　play；　or　will　you　dance　to　your　own　music？〃

This　was　immediately　translated　to　the　chiefs；　and　my　demeanour　seemed
to　cause　some　hesitation。　I　at　once　ordered　our　band　to　strike　up。

The　instant　that　a　well…known　lively　air　commenced；　I　begged　them　to
exhibit　some　native　dance　to　amuse　us。　Seeing　their　hesitation；　I
inquired　whether　they　would　wish　to　see　my　men　perform？　After　a　few
words　between　Kittakara　and　Rahonka；　the　former　agreed　that　it　would　be
better　for　my　men　to　commence　the　dance　first。

I　lost　no　time　in　explaining　to　Kittakara。　At　that　he　must　at　once
address　the　crowd　and　assure　them　that　the　performance　about　to　commence
was　intended　for　their　amusement；　and　there　was　no　cause　for　fear。　At
the　same　time；　I　begged　him　to　order　the　crowd　to　stand　back；　and　to
afford　space　for　my　troops；　who　were　about　to　advance　with　the　bayonet。

In　a　loud　voice　Kittakara　gave　the　necessary　explanation。

I　ordered　the　bugler　to　sound　the　advance；　and　the　whole　band　sounded
the　charge　with　the　bayonet　（sinjatre　doran）。

At　the　inspiriting　call；　each　side　of　the　square　advanced　at　the　double
with　bayonets　at　the　charge。　The　crowd；　lately　so　demonstrative；　fell
quickly　back；　and；　having　thus　cleared　the　square；　I　told　Kittakara　to
order　every　individual　of　the　crowd　to　sit　down　upon　the　ground。

The　great　mass　of　people　obeyed　the　order　with　the　discipline　of
soldiers；　and　my　troops　fell　back　and　re…formed　their　square　as　before。
The　little　square；　with　a　single　line　of　front　of　twenty　men；　now
occupied　the　centre　of　the　clear　space。

I　lost　no　time　in　inquiring　for　Kabba　Rega；　whom　I　insisted　upon　seeing。
After　a　short　delay　he　appeared；　in　company　of　some　of　his　bonosoora。　He
was　in　a　beastly　state　of　intoxication；　and；　after　reeling　about　with　a
spear　in　his　hand；　he　commenced　a　most　imbecile　attempt　at　warlike
gestures。

Had　my　eighty　men　been　armed　with　breech…loaders；　I　could　have　mown　down
hundreds　by　a　fire　from　the　square；　had　hostilities　been　forced　upon　us；
but；　as　the　greater　portion　were　armed　with　old　muskets；　we　might　have
been　overwhelmed　by　a　general　rush；　when　reloading　after　the　first
volley。

Kabba　Rega　was　so　drunk　that　he　did　not　appear　to　recognize　me；　but　he
continued　to　reel　about　for　a　short　time；　and　thus　to　expose　his　idiotic
condition；　until　his　chiefs　at　length　recommended　him　to　retire。

Kittakara　now　explained　that；　if　I　wished　to　have　a　general　dance；　they
would　prepare　a　grand　entertainment　at　some　future　time；　but　he　now
begged　me　to　withdraw　the　troops；　as　the　sun　was　very　hot；　and　the
natives　were　fatigued。

I　assured　Kittakara　and　the　chiefs　that　the　people　had　no　cause　for
fear；　and　that　now　that　my　station　was　completed　I　should　frequently
bring　the　troops　to　the　public　square　for　musketry　drill；　as　there　was
no　other　open　space；　unless　Kabba　Rega　would　order　his　people　to　clear
away　the　high　grass；　which　he　had　so　often　promised　to　do。

The　band　now　struck　up；　and　the　troops；　in　single　file；　marched　through
the　narrow　lanes　of　the　crowded　town。　I　walked　at　their　head；　and　I　was
much　pleased　by　seeing　my　little　friend；　Cherri…Merri；　who　ran　out　of
the　crowd；　and　taking　my　hand；　he　marched　with　us　as　a　volunteer；　and
accompanied　us　to　the　station。

Upon　arrival　at　the　government　quarters；　I　found　all　hands　armed　and
well　stationed　for　the　defence　of　the　divan　and　powder…magazine；　by　my
wife；　who　was　commandant　in　my　absence。　She　had　placed　rockets　in
readiness　to　fire　the　town　on　the　instant　of　a　volley　of　musketry　being
heard。　My　good　little　officer　had　also　laid　out　a　large　supply　of　spare
ammunition；　together　with　every　gun；　rifle；　and　pistol；　all　of　which
were　laid　on　a　table　in　the　divan；　ready　to　repel　an　attack。

I　now　sent　for　Rahonka；　who　was　supposed　to　be　the　general　of　Kabba
Rega's　forces。

The　conduct　of　little　Cherri…Merri　was　very　gratifying；　as　he　had
adhered　to　his　true　friends　in　a　moment　of　great　uncertainty。

Rahonka　shortly　appeared。　　My　interpreter；　Umbogo；　was　absent　on　leave
for　two　days　to　visit　his　farm；　thus　Rahonka　was　accompanied　by
Kadji…Barri；　who　was　well　accustomed　to　us；　and　had　often　received
presents。

I　now　insisted　upon　an　explanation　concerning　the　sudden　beating　of　the
war…drum　and　the　extraordinary　assembly　of　the　people　armed　for　war。
Rahonka　looked　foolish　and　nervous；　as　though　he　doubted　the　chance　of　a
safe　retreat。　He　could　not　give　any　satisfactory　reason　for　the　hostile
display　we　had　so　recently　witnessed；　but　he　attributed　it　to　the
drunken　state　of　Kabba　Rega；　who　ha