With Flashlight and Rifle ^ 



emergencies, and was in a position to repulse any further 

 night-attacks. 



Well, on Christmas night, about nine o'clock, there 

 Bed to the protecting- walls of the so-called "Fort" the 

 whole population of the settlement, with the women and 

 children. The fort, in my opinion, is neither advan- 

 tageously situated, nor particularly adapted for defence 

 against a well-directed attack ; and, above all, in case of 

 serious need, is almost waterless. But this time it did 

 not get so far as an attack by night ; for the natives had 

 not, on this occasion, been able to keep their plans secret. 

 The subsequent punitive expedition ; the carrying of 

 war into the camp of the besiegers ; the execution of 

 nineteen chiefs on one day as a warning example, will 

 sufficiently prove the gravity of the situation. . . . To 

 my great regret I was not permitted to take part in the 

 campaign, although I had offered my services in any 

 capacity, even that of nurse ! 



Never will that Christmas night fade from my memory. 

 Now I perceived what the nocturnal scene had meant 

 which I had gone through in Kibosho on my march out. 

 Evidently the natives had even then had treacherous 

 intentions, which had been frustrated by the watchfulness 

 of my people. Certainly at that time, as I have already 

 shown, the authorities did not anticipate any attacks of 

 that kind. 



It seems to me typical of the esprit de corps of the 

 natives and their reserve towards Europeans, that none of 

 the missionaries at the mountain had been warned by 

 their pupils. A Catholic missionary, who had a close 



686 



