Darkest Africa 1: The Invaders Cometh...

On the seventh day of the last month of parched land, Jumada II, in the year 1276*, my master, the most eloquent and munificent Shah Wadi-Wahdi did set forth from Zanjibaar with the blessing of the Sultan himself, Sayyid Majid bin Said Al-Busaid, to explore the hinterland of Zanj** and ply the trade route to Tabora.

The Sultan.  Apparently he was an investor in people, but not in the modern sense.

Unfortunately, my master would not be permitted to do so unhindered.  Clearly our coffle and rich trade goods had proved too much of a temptation for the Ruga-Ruga, disreputable hemp-smoking extortionists, with whom there had been some disagreement previously.  Very soon, word reached us that an attack upon our caravan by these Ruga-Ruga was being planned.

Thus warned, my master awaited the Ruga-Ruga in a tembe as they drew their terrible strength together.  Although he was not present, the advice was heeded of our scout, One-Eyed Abdullahi and his companion Qurd.  Two great walls of jungle flanked the tembe, and to our left, a number of loyal wangwana were placed in the treeline, ready to ambush any force bent on assualting the tembe.  Likewise on the right, my master's loyal Baluchi swordsmen also lay in wait, concealed in the gloom of the jungle.  Within the tembe, my master marshalled the remainder of his askaris, loyal slaves to a man, as well as a fine cannon, fit for the Sultan's saluting battery in Stone Town.  Of course we were also there in attendance, Kibonghe seeing to the coffle and old Sallah ed-Bahr pacing the courtyard and uttering choice suras to exhort us all to great deeds.

We waited expectantly for the rush of warriors, but strangly, it did not come.  Instead, a mighty roar shattered the peace of the savannah.  "Tetemeko!" yelled one of the askaris, but he was shamed into silence by the scoffing of his fellows.  No, not an earthquake, but the fire of our Baluchis.

Sadly, their enthusiasm had got the better of them, for their weapons found few targets.  Clearly the tedium of garrison duties in Zanjibaar's fort had taken its toll.    As God willed it (spurred on no doubt by Sallah ed-Bahr's timely arrival), however, the musketry of our Ruga-Ruga foes was equally poor.  As the Ruga-Ruga hurled themselves at the outnumbered Baluchis, Providence nonetheless smiled upon us.  It has been said that a single man running in the night may cut a thousand throats; we may now also say that the swords of a dozen Baluchis will rend a Ruga-Ruga horde asunder, losing not a single Baluchi  However, the remaining foe died hard, with the loss of several of our brave warriors.  Sallah himself was cut down by a ragged and cowardly volley from the long grass before the jungle.

In so doing, the Ruga-Ruga merely brought a righteous doom down upon their right flank, as the Baluchis charged into the face of their muskets to avenge both their brothers and old Sallah.

The balance of the Ruga-Ruga had clearly used this as a distraction, for they now appeared in great numbers as if from the very ground about the tembe.  Soon they were swarming up the walls and onto the roof despite the best efforts of the askari within.  In desperation, even the muzzle of the cannon was turned towards the inner courtyard, lest the Ruga-Ruga gain entry there. 

However, our faith was to be rewarded.  Our loyal wangwana were able to catch the flank of the Ruga-ruga assaulting the tembe, surprising them, no less.  Furthermore, such was the fury of the Baluchis' attack on the Ruga-Ruga right flank that the Ruga-Rugas' own chief- hitherto hiding as only a coward might at the rear- was forced to approach, and commit his mightiest warrior to the fray.  Soon the long grass ran red with the blood of both Zanjibaar and Ruga-Ruga alike, but Zanjibaar prevailed.

At this, the wily old Ruga-Ruga shehe must have thought better of his plans and instead chose to withdraw his forces.  As luck would have it, Kibonghe swiftly marshalled the coffle out to where our enemy had fallen, and we were able to add plentiful quantities of merikani, joho and bindera to our hongo. 

 

Position	Faction	Played	Won	Lost	Hongos Gained	Hongos Lost	Hongo Total
1	“Turks”	1	1	0	1	0	6
1	Zanzibar	1	1	0	1	0	6
3	Ngoni	1	0	1	0	1	4
3	Ruga-Ruga	1	0	1	0	1	4

*Early 1860-ish.  Definitely before teatime.

**Eastern Africa, or thereabouts...