The Albert N'Yanza, Great Basin of the Nile - Samuel White Baker (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📗

refused the desired bullets.

 

To change the conversation, I inquired whether he or any of his people

knew from whence their race originated, as their language and appearance

were totally different to the tribes that I had visited front the north.

He told me that he knew his grandfather, whose name was Cherrybambi, but

that he knew nothing of the history of the country, except that it had

formerly been a very extensive kingdom, and that Uganda and Utumbi had

been comprised in the country of Kitwara with Unyoro and Chopi.

 

The kingdom of Kitwara extended from the frontier of Karagwe to the

Victoria Nile at Magungo, and Karuma, bounded on all sides but the south

by that river and the Victoria and the Albert lakes; the latter lake

forming the western frontier. During the reign of Cherrybambi, the

province of Utumbi revolted, and not only became independent, but drove

Cherrybambi from Uganda across the Kafoor river to Unyoro. This revolt

continued until Cherrybambi’s death, when the father of M’tese (the

present king of Uganda), who was a native of Utumbi, attacked and

conquered Uganda and became king. From that time there has been

continual war between Uganda and Unyoro; or, as Kamrasi calls his

kingdom, Kitwara, that being the ancient name: to the present day,

M’tese, the king of Uganda, is one of his greatest enemies. It was in

vain that I attempted to trace his descent from the Gallas; both upon

this and other occasions he and his people denied all knowledge of their

ancient history.

 

He informed me that Chopi had also revolted after the death of

Cherrybambi, and that he had reconquered it only ten or twelve years

ago, but that even now the natives were not to be trusted, as many had

leagued with Fowooka and Rionga, whose desire was to annex Chopi and to

form a separate kingdom: these chiefs had possession of the river

islands, which strongholds it was impossible to attack without guns, as

the rapids were so dangerous that canoes could only approach by a

certain passage.

 

Kamrasi expressed his determination to kill both of the refractory

chiefs, as he would have no rest during their lives; he disclaimed all

relationship with Rionga, who had been represented to Speke as his

brother, and he concluded by requesting me to assist him in an attack

upon the river islands, promising that if I should kill Fowooka and

Rionga he would give me a large portion of his territory.

 

He suggested that I should stand upon a high cliff that commanded

Fowooka’s island; from that point I could pick off not only the chief,

but all his people, by firing steadily with the little double 24 rifle;

he continued even farther, that if I were too ill to go myself, I should

LEND him my little Fletcher 24 rifle, give him my men to assist his

army, and he would pick off Rionga himself from the cliff above the

river: this was his mild way of securing the rifle which he had coveted

ever since my arrival in his country. I told him plainly that I could

not mix myself up with his quarrels; that I travelled with only one

object, of doing good, and that I would harm no one unless in

self-defence, therefore I could not be the aggressor; but that should

Fowooka and Rionga attack his position I should be most happy to lend

him my aid to repel them. Far from appreciating my ideas of fair play,

he immediately rose from his chair, and without taking leave he walked

out of the hut, attended by his people.

 

The next morning I heard that he had considered himself poisoned by the

tarter-emetic but that he was now well.

 

From that day I received no supplies for myself or my people, as the

king was affronted. A week passed away, and I was obliged to purchase

meat and flour from Eddrees, the lieutenant who commanded the Turks’

party of nine men. I gave this man a double-barrelled gun, and he

behaved well.

 

One day I was lying upon my bed with a fit of ague, when it was reported

that four men had arrived from M’tese, the king of Uganda, who wished to

see me. Unfortunately my vakeel delayed the men for so long that they

departed, promising to return again, having obtained from my people all

information concerning me: these were spies from the king of Uganda,

whose object at that time was unknown to us.

 

The weeks passed slowly at Kisoona, as there was a tedious monotony in

the lack of incident;—every day was a repetition of the preceding. My

time was passed in keeping a regular journal; mapping; and in writing

letters to friends in England, although there was no communication. This

task afforded the greatest pleasure, as I could thus converse in

imagination with those far away. The thought frequently occurred to me

that they might no longer exist, and that the separation of years might

be the parting forever; nevertheless there was a melancholy satisfaction

at thus blankly corresponding with those whom I had loved in former

years. Thus the time slowly ebbed away; the maps were perfected;

information that I had received was confirmed by the repeated

examination of natives; and a few little black children who were allowed

to run about our courtyard like so many puppies afforded a study of the

African savage in embryo. This monotony was shortly disturbed.

 

At about 9 P.M. one night we were suddenly disturbed by a tremendous din

—hundreds of nogaras were beating, horns blowing, and natives

screaming in all directions. I immediately jumped out of bed, and

buckling on my belt I took my rifle and left the hut. The village was

alive with people all dressed for war, and bearded with cows’ tails,

dancing and rushing about with shields and spears, attacking imaginary

enemies. Bacheeta informed me that Fowooka’s people had crossed the Nile

and were within three hours’ march of Kisoona, accompanied by A HUNDRED

AND FIFTY of Debono’s trading party, the same that had formerly attacked

Kamrasi in the preceding year in company with Rionga’s people. It was

reported, that having crossed the Nile they were marching direct on

Kisoona, with the intention of attacking the country and of killing

Kamrasi. M’Gambi, the brother of Kamrasi, whose hut was only twenty

yards distant, immediately came to me with the news: he was in a state

of great alarm, and was determined to run off to the king immediately to

recommend his flight. After some time I succeeded in convincing him that

this was unnecessary, and that I might be of great service in this

dilemma if Kamrasi would come personally to me early on the following

morning.

 

The sun had just risen, when the king unceremoniously marched into my

hut;—he was no longer the dignified monarch of Kitwara clothed in a

beautiful mantle of fine skins, but he wore nothing but a short kilt of

blue baize that Speke had given him, and a scarf thrown across his

shoulders. He was dreadfully alarmed, and could hardly be persuaded to

leave his weapons outside the door, according to the custom of the

country—these were three lances and a double-barrelled rifle that had

been given him by Speke. I was much amused at his trepidation, and

observing the curious change in his costume, I complimented him upon the

practical cut of his dress, that was better adapted for fighting than

the long and cumbrous mantle. “FIGHTING!” he exclaimed, with the horror

of “Bob Acres,” “I am not going to fight! I have dressed lightly to be

able to run quickly. I mean to run away! Who can fight against guns?

Those people have one hundred and fifty guns; you must run with me; we

can do nothing against them; you have only thirteen men; Eddrees has

only ten; what can twenty-three do against A HUNDRED AND FIFTY? Pack up

your things and run; we must be off into the high grass and hide at

once; the enemy is expected every moment!”

 

I never saw a man in such a deplorable state of abject fright, and I

could not help laughing aloud at the miserable coward who represented a

kingdom. Calling my headman, I ordered him to hoist the English ensign

on my tall flagstaff in the courtyard. In a few moments the old flag was

waving in a brisk breeze and floating over my little hut. There is

something that warms the heart in the sight of the Union Jack when

thousands of miles away from the old country. I now explained to Kamrasi

that both he and his country were under the protection of that flag,

which was the emblem of England; and that so long as he trusted to me,

although I had refused to join him in attacking Fowooka, he should see

that I was his true ally, as I would defend him against all attacks. I

told him to send a large quantity of supplies into my camp, and to

procure guides immediately, as I should send some of my men without

delay to the enemy’s camp with a message to the vakeel of Debono’s

party. Slightly reassured by this arrangement, he called Quonga, and

ordered him to procure two of his chiefs to accompany my men. The best

of his men, Cassave, appeared immediately;—this was a famous fellow,

who had always been civil and anxious to do his duty both to his master

and to me. I summoned Eddrees, and ordered him to send four of his men

with an equal number of mine to the camp of Fowooka to make a report of

the invading force, and to see whether it was true that Debono’s people

were arrived as invaders. In half an hour from the receipt of my order,

the party started;—eight well-armed men accompanied by about twenty

natives of Kamrasi’s with two days’ provisions. Kisoona was about ten

miles from the Victoria Nile.

 

At about 5 P.M. on the following day my men returned, accompanied by ten

men and a choush, or sergeant, of Debono’s party;—they had determined

to prove whether I was actually in the country, as they had received a

report some months ago that both my wife and I were dead; they imagined

that the men that I had sent to their camp were those of the rival party

belonging to Ibrahim, who had wished to drive them out of Kamrasi’s

country by using my name. However, they were now undeceived, as the

first object that met their view was the English flag on the high

flagstaff, and they were shortly led into my courtyard, where they were

introduced to me in person. They sat in a half-circle around me.

 

Assuming great authority, I asked them how they could presume to attack

a country under the protection of the British flag? I informed them that

Unyoro belonged to me by right of discovery, and that I had given

Ibrahim the exclusive right to the produce of that country, on the

condition that he should do nothing contrary to the will of the reigning

king, Kamrasi; that Ibrahim had behaved well; that I had been guided to

the lake and had returned, and that we were now actually fed by the

king; and we were suddenly invaded by Turkish subjects in connexion with

a hostile tribe, who thus insulted the English flag. I explained to them

that I should not only resist any attack that might be made upon

Kamrasi, but that I should report the whole affair to the Turkish

authorities upon my return to Khartoum; and that, should a shot be fired

or a slave be stolen in Kamrasi’s country, the leader of their party,

Mahommed Wat-el-Mek, would be hanged.

 

They replied that they were not aware that