them the white man, or “ Mazoongoo,” who gave them
beef to eat, and did not, like Dr Kiengo, make use of
divination by the horns of antelopes and the entrails
of fowls to procure food.
ith.—Halt. Started a second set of men ahead for
information. The reply we received from them was,
that Kamarasi was a great king, and that it took
many days before a question could be referred to him.
Such is the way that travelling is delayed in this
country ! However, I sent a message to say that two
days hence we meant to march to the north, even
without permission. Heavy rain, thunder, and lightning
in the afternoon. Guinea-fowl crying all round
camp. I went shooting them with ball from the trees
in the forest, and succeeded in getting one. The grass
at present is too tall to see beyond twenty yards; and
no antelopes have been seen. Water is a mile away
from our huts, in a puddle surrounded by rushes, in
the low part of a glade running to the north.
6 th.—Halt. Sent a party ahead to inquire why
we are detained. A portion of them return, saying
they had met a number of armed W anyoro, who asked
why we were parading up and down the road every
day—we’ll get a thrashing one of these days! By
noon of the 7th, the remainder of the men returned
without further news. Their commander, Mabruk,
had seen a lion in a trap last night. The Waganda
threw their spears into the dead animal; while the
brave Mabruk discharged his gun at it, to show its
effect upon the Wanyoro, who immediately dropped
their spears, and ran, never having heard the report
of a gun before.
8 th.—Halt. By noon a king’s messenger arrived,
with followers having their spears capped with leather
and tufts of hair. He informed us that the king did
not wish to see the white men because they had insulted
him by approaching his country by two different
routes; they had also come vid■ Uganda, the king of
which is an upstart. If they choose to return a year
hence, with, a recommendation from Bumanika, he
will see them with pleasure. No remonstrance would
be listened to ; we might march back as soon as we
liked. This was startling, but I still had hopes.
9 th.—Halt. A meeting, which lasted three hours,
was held to-day to discuss the subject of our visit,
and whether we could advance. There were present
Wanyoro, Wanyamuezi, Waganda, Karagues, Wung-
wana (Seedees), and myself. Every possible argument
failed; entreaties and presents were of no avail; and
my most valuable possession, a double-barrelled rifle
by Blisset, presented to me by a kind old friend,
Blanshard (formerly governor of Vancouver Island),
—even this was refused as a bribe to the king. He
had sent his messenger merely to see the strength of
our party, and to ascertain, if possible, whether we
were in the habit of stealing cattle and men, and ultimately
to desire that we should retire to the Uganda
frontier, where, after eight days, we should have a
reply. This appearing to have considerable reason in
it, and all supplies having run short, I reluctantly
gave my consent to retire next day, but only to the
Uganda frontier, where I should wait for my companion.
To show the wicked spirit of the men, and
their utter want of sympathy at this critical time, a
few commenced wantonly cutting down some sorghum
which was growing close to my hut, saying they were