Itwillnowbenecessarytoexplainthetruepositionofaffairs，whichatthattimeIdidnotsuspect。
Uponmyfirstarrivalattheriver，whenIhadexplainedmyviewstoSuleiman，hehadimmediatelydespatchedalettertoAbouSaoodatFatiko。Hispartyhadtravelledfast，andtheyreturnedwithananswer。
Icouldneverdiscovertheactualcontentsoftheletterinreply，butI
heardthatitcautionedSuleimannottopartwiththeslaves，andtojoinAbouSaoodwithhisivoryandallhispeopleatthestationofFabbo，aday’smarchwestofFatiko。
Suleimanwasinanawkwardposition。HehadalwaysheldahighplaceintheeyesofKabbaRegaandhischiefs，andhisalliancehadbeencourtedandobtainedforacombinedattachupontheoldenemy，Rionga。ThearmyofKabbaRegahadbeenwaitingattherendezvousinexpectationofSuleiman’sassistance。Afleetoflargecanoeshadbeenconcentratedatagivenpointfortheinvasionoftheisland；andKabbaRegaandhissheiksconsideredthatatlengththeiroldenemywasinthesnare。
Myunexpectedarrivalhadruinedtheproject，asIstrictlyforbadeSuleimantoattackRionga。
ThisdisappointedKabbaRegaandhispeople，whocouldnotunderstandhowIcouldbethefriendofhislatefatherKamrasi，andatthesametimeprotecthisenemyRionga。
Theattackontheislandwasadangerousadventure，asitwassurroundedbydensemassesofpapyrusrushthatwouldpreventcanoesfromlanding，exceptatcertainplaceswerenarrowpassageshadbeencleared。Afewmenconcealedamongthepapyruscouldmassacreanattackingpartyatdiscretion，astheystruggledthroughthenarrowentranceincanoes。IthadbeenproposedthatSuleiman’speopleweretoattackinboatsandclearouttheenemybyasharpfireintothepapyrustocoverthegeneraladvance。
Suleimanwasinadilemma，ashehadalreadypromisedalliance，andhadreceivedaquantityofivoryinpaymentforhisservices。HehadaccordinglymadethefollowingsecretarrangementwithRahonkaandLokara：——”LetthePachaandhissoldiersstartforMasindi，andhewillsupposethatSuleimanwillfollowonthemorrow；insteadofwhich，hewillatoncejoinKabbaRega’sforces，andattackRionga，whenthePachashallbeseveraldays’journeydistantfromtheriver。”
OnhisreturntoFoweerafromasuccessfulinvasionofRionga’sisland，thecommandersoftheforces，LokaraandRahonka，wereatoncetofurnishcarrierstotransportSuleimanwithallhispeopleandivorytotheFabbostation，accordingtotheinstructionsreceivedfromAbouSaood。
Ishouldthusbedeceived，andbeleftatMasindi，160milesdistantfrommydetachmentatFatiko，withoutthepowerofcommunication。
At8。30A。M。wewereinthesaddle，andstartedfromFoweera。Suleimancametokissmyhandatmydeparture。Werodeatonceintothelowforest，andasthelastmanofourpartydisappearedfromview，Suleimanreturnedtohiszareeba。Hethenpreparedforvengeance，whichthroughmypresencehadlongbeendelayed。
HeandhisferociouspeopledraggedtheprisonerwhoselifeIhadprotectedfromthecamp，untiltheyarrivedatathickgroveofplantainsabout200pacesfromthestation。Rahonka，Lokara，Quonga，Matonse，andotherprincipalchiefs，weresummonedtowitnesstheimpotenceofthePacha’spowertosave；andtoseewiththeirowneyesthedefiancethatSuleimanwouldexhibittotheordersofaChristian。”NowletthenativesclaspthekneesofthePachaanddefythepowerofSuleiman！”
Theruffiandrewhissabre，andwithhisownhand，inthepresenceofacrowdofwitnesses，hehackedofftheheadoftheunfortunateprisoner，andthuspubliclyridiculedmyauthority。
Inthemeantime，whilethismurderwasbeingcommitted，weweretravellingonwardwithoutasuspicionoftreachery。ItwillbeseenhowbydegreesIbecameacquaintedwiththecrimeanddesignsofSuleiman，whohadalreadysecretlyforwardedinstructionstohismenatMasindiatthesametimethathehadcommunicatedinhisrearwithAbouSaoodatFatiko。
AccompaniedbyLadyBaker，Irodeattheheadofthepartywithmyusualadvancedguardoffivepickedmenof”TheForty。”LieutenantBakerwalkedonfoot，ashewishedtosavehishorse’sbackthatwasslightlygalled。
Werodefarinadvance，astherewasnodangertobeapprehendedinthiscountry，andmyfiveguardswithknapsacks，smallaxes，andgeneralaccoutrements，keptthepaceoffourmilesanhourforabouttwenty-onemilestoKisoona。Themarchhadbeenthroughforest，andgrassaboutfourfeetinheight，whichwasnowgrowingvigorouslyaftertherecentshowers。Thelargetreeswerecoveredwithorchids，amongwhichI
noticedapeculiarspecieswhichhungfromtheboughslikeanapron。
Thiswasexceedinglypretty，astheleafwasabouteighteeninchesinbreadth，theedgeswerescallopedandofacopper-browncolour，whiletheupperportionwasdarkgreen。
Thewholecountryhadbeendesolatedbycivilwar，inwhichthecompanionsofAbouSaoodhadtakenaprominentpart，andhadcarriedoffagreatnumberofthewomen。
Kisoonawasapoorstragglingplaceinthecentreoftheforest；butalthoughthebeehive-shapedhutswerefarapart，therewastheusualamountoffilthandashesthatdisgracethevillagesofUnyoro。Averylargeplantationofbananasaffordedfoodfortheinhabitants，allofwhomseemedtohavedisappeared。
ThroughoutUnyorothesoilisexceedinglyrich；thetobaccogardensexhibitedanextremeluxuriance，andthesizeoftheleavesformedagreatcontrasttotheplantsinthehotsoiloftheBaricountry。
Iplacedasentryoverthetobacco，andcautionedthetroopsagainststealingorinanywaydamagingthecrops。
AnativeofUmirotravelledasourinterpreter。ThismanwasaconfidentialslavebelongingtoKabbaRega，andformedoneofhisregiment。Umbogoorthe”Buffalo”wasahighlyintelligentfellow，andspokegoodArabic，ashehadbeenconstantlyassociatedwiththeArabslave-traders。Ihadsuppliedhimwithclothes，andhelookedquiterespectableinablueshirtbeltedroundthewaist，withacartouche-pouchofleopard’sskin，thathadbeengivenhimbythepeopleofthezareeba。Umbogocarriedamusket，andwasaltogetheraveryimportantpersonage，althoughaslave。
Thelongmarchoftwenty-onemiles，throughforest，alongaroughandnarrowpath，haddelayedthecarriersandthecattle。Althoughmymenhadsteppedalongsobriskly，therear-guarddidnotarriveuntiltheevening。Atremendousdownpourofraindelugedtheground。Thiswasagodsendtous，whowerewellhousedandtented，aswecaughtagoodsupplyofwaterwiththemackintoshcamp-sheetsthatwasverysuperiortothecontentsofasmallpool，whichusuallysufficedforthevillagepeople。
Ialwaystravelledwithalargespongingbath，whichwasoneofthehouseholdgodsoftheexpedition。Thiswasnowfullofpurerainwater。
Thevalueofthisoldfriendwasincalculable。InformeryearsIhadcrossedtheAtbarariverinthissamebath，lasheduponanangarebstretcher，supportedbyinflatedskins。Withoutextraflotationitwouldsupportmyweight，anditwasalwaysusedwhencrossingasmallstream，assistedbytwomenwading，oneofwhomhelditoneithersidetopreventitfromoverturning。Thuswecouldtravelwithoutthenecessityofplungingintodeepmudandwater。
Suchautensilwasinvaluableforwateringthehorses；alsoforwashingclothes，orforreceivingasupplyofrain-waterduringashower，fromthecamp-sheetssuspendedabovethebath。
TheneighbourhoodofKisoonawasverypopulous，butthevillageswereallconcealedintheforest，amidstvastgrovesofbananas。
Therewasalargetractofpotatocultivation；asupplyofthesewelcomerootswaswithdifficultyobtainedfromthenatives。
Itappearedtobearepetitionofmyformerexperienceinthiscountry，whichunpleasantlyremindedmeofthescarcityoffoodduringmyfirstexplorationofUnyoro。
Onthefollowingmorning12thApril，whenthehorsesweresaddledandwewerereadytostart，notasinglenativewasforthcoming。Everymanofabout200carriershadabsconded！”AlthoughRahonkahadassuredme，previoustostartingfromtheriver，thatfoodwouldbereadyforthetroopsateveryhalting-place，nothinghasbeenprepared。Wearethusleftasmuchneglectedasduringmyformervoyageinthisdetestablecountry。Thereisnotonesheikwithus，althoughthreeprincipalchiefsweretoldofftoaccompanyustoMasindi。IthereforetoldourfriendPittiathatIshouldnotproceedfarther，asIwouldhavenothingtodowithsomiserableakingasKabbaRega。”IimmediatelysentColonelAbd-el-KaderbacktoFoweerawiththirtymen，andalettertoSuleiman，orderinghimtocollect300menatoncetoreturnmyeffectstohiszareeba。ItiedPittia，theguide，byasmallcordattachedtotheneck，asIfearedhealsomightescape。Whatcanbedonewiththesetreacherouspeople?”Thereisareport，nowconfirmedbythedragoman，Umbogo，thataplanhadbeenarrangedbetweenSuleimanandRahonkathatIshouldbeledoutoftheirway，andtheywouldthenjointheirforcesandattackRionga。”IdonotbelievethatSuleimanwouldplacehisheadinsuchahalter。”Veryheavyrainat1P。M。”April13——Thesoiliswonderfullyfertile——thisisachocolate-
colouredvegetableloam。Amongthecropsisaspeciesofesculentsolanum，withlargeorange-colouredberries；boththefruitandleavesareeatenbythenatives。”Irepairedmybootsto-daywiththemilkfromtheindia-rubber-tree。
JulianLieutenantBakerhadfever。ColonelAbd-el-Kaderandpartyreturnedat2。40P。M。，havingmarchedrapidly，andaccomplishedtheirmissionandajourneyofforty-twomilesintwenty-sevenhoursandfortyminutes。”Thisexcellentofficerbroughtwithhim，securedbyasmallleatherthong，bytheneck，thegreatsheiksKittakara，Matonse，andseveralsmallerfry。”Theroyalsheik，Rahonka，escapedbybreakingthroughthesideofhishut。”Thereportwasasfollows：——”ColonelAbd-el-KaderandhispartyofthirtymenhadarrivedatSuleiman’szareebaatabout8P。M。Hefoundthevakeels，SuleimanandEddrees，surroundedbymanyoftheirmen，apparentlyinconsultation。”UponAbd-el-Kader’sappearance，themenmovedoff，onebyone，andquietlypackeduptheireffects，preparatorytoageneralflight。”Abd-el-KaderinformedSuleimanofthedesertionofourcarriers。Hethenatonceproceededtothenativezareeba，about200yardsfromthecamp。HetherefoundtheprincipalsheiksinthehutofRahonka。”Abd-el-Kaderimmediatelyinformedthemofthepurportofhisarrival，andrequestedthesheikstoaccompanyhimtothezareebaofSuleiman。
Rahonkabeggedtobeleftaloneforashorttimetoenablehimtodress。”Abd-el-Kaderwaitedoutsidethedoorofthehut，and，becomingtiredofsolongadelay，here-entered，andtohisastonishmentfoundthedwelling_empty。_Rahonkahadescapedbyaholeinthestrawwall。”SuspicionbeingraisedbytheincomprehensibleflightofRahonka，thecolonelplacedtheremainingsheiksunderaguard，andledthemtoSuleiman’szareeba。HethenappliedtoSuleimanforaguardofeightmentowatchthesheiksduringthenight，ashisownpartyrequiredrest。”Suleimannowinformedhimthathecouldnotsupplythemen，asallhispeoplehadabscondedfromfearofAbd-el-Kader。”Onthefollowingmorningthecolonelperceived，fromthesmokeaboveouroldcampontheoppositesideoftheriverwhichinthispartis500yardsbroad，thatSuleiman’speoplehadescapedduringthenight，andhadcrossedtheriverwithalltheirslavesandeffects。”Thiswasthefirstactofmynewirregularlevy——theyhadpositivelyrunawayfromthecolonellikeaparcelofhostilenatives！”SuleimanandEddreesdeclaredthattheycouldnotcontroltheirmen，whowereafraidthatIhadorderedmyofficertoreleasetheslavesthatwereintheirpossession。ThetruthwastheyconsideredthatIhadheardofthemurderoftheprisonercommittedtothecareofSuleiman，andthatIhadsentthecolonelandhispartytomakeinquiries。”Abd-el-KaderorderedSuleimantoaccompanyhimtomyhalting-placeatKisoona。Suleimandeclinedupontheexcusethathehadsomebusiness，butthathewouldpresenthimselfto-morrow。””Icanstandthesescoundrels’conductnolonger。Ihavetriedlenientmeasures，andIhadhopedthatbyformingSuleiman’spartyintoanirregularcorpsImightbeable，bydegrees，tochangetheirhabits，andtoreducethembygooddisciplineintousefultroops，but’CantheEthiopianchangehisskin，ortheleopardhisspots?’”Iimmediatelyreleasedandexaminedthecaptivesheiks，whooneandalldeclaredthatthefaultlaywithSuleiman，whohadpreviouslyarrangedtheplanwithRahonka：thatwhenIshouldbeledawayadistanceoftwodays’journey，hewouldassemblehismenandattackRiongainconjunctionwithRahonka’sarmy。”ThereportofUmbogo，thedragoman，isthuscorroboratedbyoverwhelmingevidence。Thisman，Umbogo，declaresthatAbouSaoodwrotetoSuleiman，instructinghimtowaituntilIshouldhavepassedon，andthentobringallhisslavestoFabbo。”IimmediatelysentCaptainMohammedDeiiwithfiftymen，includingtwenty-fiveofthe’FortyThieves，’withorderstoliberateallslavesthatmightbediscoveredwithinthezareeba。HewastosummonallthepeopleofSuleiman，andtodisarmthosewhohadrunawayfromthecolonel，Abd-el-Kader。”Intheeventofresistance，hewastousetheforceathisdisposal，andatallhazardstopreventtheescapeoftheslaversacrosstheriver。”SuleimanandEddreesweretobebroughtbeforeme。”Aheavyshowerfelljustafterthetroopsstarted。”April14——Julian’shorse，Gazelle，diedlastnight；thepooranimalhadbeenillforsomedays。”Quonga，whoisthesheikofthisdistrict，camethismorningandexcusedhisabsenceinratheralamefashion，bysayingthathehadbeencollectingfoodforthetroops，togetherwithcarriers，whoarenowreadytotransportthebaggagetoMasindi。HedeclaredthatKabbaRegawasimpatient，andhadsentthreeofSuleiman’speopletodeliverthemessagetome，buttheserascalshadpassedonthismorningdirecttothezareebaofSuleiman，withoutcommunicatingwithusontheway。”Quonganotonlycorroboratedthetestimonyofthesheiksandthedragoman，Umbogo，againstSuleiman，ashavingconspiredtoattackRiongaaftermydeparture，buthegaveadditionalevidence，that’SuleimanhadtoldRahonkaandthegreatsheiksthatI，thePacha，knewnothingaboutwar，thatnoneofthegovernmenttroopscouldshoot，andthatIshouldonlytravelandsubsistuponthecountry，butthatheSuleimanwouldjointhemandkillRiongaafterIshouldhavedeparted。’