114 Seven Years in the So2idan.

upon, wliile fires were lighted on the heights. ]\Iy dragoman , wlio knew these signals, told me that one fire signified the approach of an enemy ; two, not very distant from each other that they must put themselves in safety ; three, summoned them to assemble for combat ; four, announced the advance of the enem}', and so on.

Kaba Rega, terrified, had appealed to Sultan Mtesa, asking for his alliance and help ; but Mtesa thought it better to negotiate and adjust matters by writing a letter to Colonel Gordon. It was written in very bad English, and yet T believe it to be the Avork of an English servant Avhom Stanley' had left at Rubaga (the residence of the Sultan Mtesa), to take care of all the things left in deposit there.

The letter was as follows : — " I, Mtesa, Sultan of the Sultans of Uganda, write this letter to you to tell you not to make war on Kaba Rega. In making war on Kaba Rega, you make it also on me, and Kaba Rega is King of Unyoro. I have heard that you have made war ships. I will go to Bombay. The King of Kings of Uganda salutes you." Mtesa, in announcing to Gordon that he would go to Bombay, intended, perhaps, to give him to understand that he would put himself under the protection of the English Government. King Mtesa has a great aversion to the Arabs, and asserts that his royal race being of Abyssinian origin, he belongs to the Christian religion. In support of this opinion, it is sufficient to say that the race of the Unyoro, as well as that of the Uganda, differ from all the other tribes of Central Africa, as well by the colour of their complexion as by their customs. King Kaba Rega is the .successor of his father, the famous Kamrasi of Baker Pasha. At the ■ All this infovniation Avas probably gathered by Gessi at his return to the Sheikh Wadelai, where he stayed some time. — Editob.