ever, did Virembo turn tail tban the Sirhid gave us a
broad bint that be usually received a trifle from tbe
Arabs before be made an attempt at arranging tbe bongo
with Siiwarora. Any trifle would do, but be preferred
clotb.
Tbis was ratber perplexing. Sirhid knew very well
tbat I bad a small reserve of pretty clotbs, though all tbe
common ones bad been expended; so, to keep in good
terms with him who was to be our intercessor, I said I
would give him tbe last I bad got, if be would not tell
Siiwarora or any one else what I bad done. Of course
be was quite ready to undertake tbe condition, so I gave
him two pretty clotbs, and be in return gave me two
goats. But when this little business bad been transacted,
to my surprise be said: “ I have orders from Siiwarora
to be absent five days to doctor a sick relation of bis, for
there is no man in tbe country so skilled in medicines as
myself; but whilst I am gone I will leave KarambGld,
my brother, to officiate in my stead about taking your
bongo; but tbe work will not commence until to-morrow,
for I must see Siiwarora on the subject myself first.”
IrungG, a very fine-looking man of Uganda, now called
on me and begged for beads. He said his king bad beard
of our approach, and was most anxious to see us. Hearing
tbis, I begged him to wait here until my bongo was
paid, tbat we might travel on to Uganda together. He
said, No, be could not wait, for be bad been detained
here a whole year already; but, if I liked, be would leave
some of bis children behind with me, as their presence
would intimidate Siiwarora, and incite him to let us off
quickly.
I then begged him to convey a Colt’s six-cbamber
revolving rifle to bis king, Mtdsa, as an earnest tbat I
was a prince most desirous of seeing him. No one, I said,
but myself could tell what dangers and difficulties I bad
encountered to come this far for tbe purpose, and all was
owing to his great fame, as the king of kings, having
reached me even as far off as Zanzibar. Tbe ambassador
would not take tbe rifle, lest bis master, who bad never
seen such a wonderful weapon before, should think be bad
brought him a malign charm, and be would be in danger
of losing bis bead. I then tried to prevail on him to take
a knife and some other pretty things, but be feared them
a ll; so, as a last chance—for I wished to send some token,
by way of card or letter, for announcing my approach and
securing tbe road—I gave him a red sixpenny pocket-
handkerchief, which be accepted; and be then told me be
was surprised I had come all tbis way round to Uganda,
when tbe road by tbe Masai country was so much shorter.
He told me bow, shortly after tbe late king of Uganda,
Sunna, died, and before Mtesa bad been selected by tbe
officers of tbe country to be their king, an Arab caravan
came across the Masai as far as Usoga, and begged for
permission to enter Uganda; but as tbe country was disturbed
by tbe elections, the officers of tbe state advised
tbe Arabs to wait, or come again when tbe king was
elected. I told him I bad beard of tbis before, but also
beard tbat those Arabs bad met with great disasters,
owing to tbe turbulence of tbe Masai. To which be replied
: “ Tbat is tru e ; there were great difficulties in those
times, but now the Masai country was in better order;
and as Mtesa was most anxious to open tbat line, be
would give me as many men as I liked if I wished to go
home that way.”
Tbis was pleasant information, but not quite new, for
tbe Arabs bad told me Mtdsa was so anxious to open tbat
route, be bad frequently offered to aid them in it himself.
Still it was most gratifying to myself, as I bad written
to the Geographical Society, on leaving Bogue, tbat if I
found Petberick in Uganda, or on tbe northern end of tbe
N’yanza, so that tbe Nile question was settled, I would
endeavour to reach Zanzibar via tbe Masai country. In