THREE LIONS AND NO RIFLE! 



The ground for this report was that the Sudanese were 

 at that time working southward through the Enclave 

 and establishing bomas at various points. I knew for a 

 fact that they were not nearer than Kagulu or Yei at that 

 time. News travels far and fast in the Congo, and the 

 villages through which I afterwards passed all showed 

 uneasiness at the rumours of another experiment being 

 made to govern their country. It is to be hoped that 

 justice will not be conspicuous by its absence when 

 the new regime is established. A certain Belgian Com- 

 mandant at a boma not a hundred miles from Lake 

 Albert recently entertained a friend of mine — chiefly 

 at my friend's expense — to an orgy of mingled wine, 

 beer, and champagne, which lasted from sundown until 

 five o'clock in the morning. At eight o'clock this 

 self-same official sat on the verandah administering 

 "Justice" to a dozen natives, who were chained together 

 and were being tormented by a number of askaris, who 

 struck the prisoners unmercifully with the butts of their 

 rifles. I was told that the bloated face of the official was 

 a sight to see. I will leave you to imagine what the 

 official " Justice " is as dealt out by such people. It is 

 sincerely to be hoped that the Sudanese askaris will not 

 be permitted to roam through the country without a 

 European officer in charge, for if they are allowed to 

 patrol under the supervision of a native or coloured non- 

 commissioned officer, we shall hear of atrocious deeds 

 similar to those perpetrated under the Belgian regime. 

 None of the people knew whether Belgians or Sudanese 

 were in charge of this district of the Enclave. 



M5 



