impracticable, as the natives bad threatened ns. Besides,
we did not know what impression had been produced
by the fight on the Nile with Speke’s men,
where several of the natives were killed. Probably
their king was enraged at this disaster. In our difficulty
we are saved by the arrival of Kamarasi’s factotum,
who brings us an invitation from his king. The
relief and delight experienced at the moment were
inexpressible—everything had happened for the best.
We had evidently been on trial, closely watched, and,
most probably, the fact of our having been so submissive
obtained for us the royal favour. The king had
ordered that our Waganda escort should quit us as
soon as we entered tbe Unyoro territory. They refused
to obey, thinking the order was insulting to
them; but I considered it a very wise policy, as they
are such a wild plundering race, and apt to quarrel.
On the march I struck a zebra with a bullet, which
made him, curiously enough, rear twice in the air. A
second ball did not take effect, but he separated from
other three, and went away limping through the long
grasses, which hid him from our view.
21 si.—Halt. Something stops the way. We cannot
move as we should, but in Africa no one ever can.
Budja distrusts the Wanyoro, and does not want to
give us up to them. The Seedees get up a complaint,
refusing to march because they have not enough of
powder ; they observe the Waganda leaving their
heavy baggage here, and suspect treachery on the part
of Kamarasi, who is said to be enraged at having his
men killed on the Nile by Speke’s party. All this
was a mere pretence, and they were distinctly told
that they might go back to Karague if they chose,
but their guns must be surrendered. Their cool reply
was that they would talk it over in the morning,
treating the matter as if time were of no value.
22c?.—Hurrah ! we march again some miles nearer
England, and encamp on the northern boundary of
Uganda. Seventeen of the mutineer Seedees delivered
up their guns, their names were noted, ammunition
was served out, and they had the guns returned—a
very simple expedient, accomplished without any further
misunderstanding.
Went shooting in a swamp. My first shot was at
a leueotis buck, but he bounded away untouched.
Again we came upon him lying immersed in water,
all but his noble head. On being alarmed he stood
for a shot, which penetrated both shoulder-blades, and
lodged under the off-skin. Budja was in such ecstasy
that he jumped through the water up to him, with all
his lads following. A Seedee got well butted before
he could cut the buck’s throat; but after the Waganda
had talked and laughed over the powers of my rifle,
eight of them raised the animal with the greatest
care out of the water, preventing his beautiful skin
from being soiled, and placed him upon a bed of clean
grass, where he was left to be cut up d la Waganda.
Budja’s eyes glistened when told that he might have
the skin; there was no end to his “ nyans, nyans,”
thanks, &c. We heard elephants screeching and trumpeting
near some acacias to the far north, but my
Waganda dreaded going within sight of them, and
stole away home. We could not find them, but during
the night heard their musical cry as they browsed
in the moonlight.
Between the 23d August and 2d September we only