for the present that, whilst they conceived the Victoria
N’yanza would take a whole month for a canoe to cross it,
they thought the Little Luta Nzige might be crossed in a
week. The Mfumbiro cones in Ruanda, which I believe
View o f M o u n t M ium b iro a n d D ra in a g e S y s tem of th e Lunas Montes,
ta k e n from a h e ig h t o f 5500 feet.
reach 10,000 feet, are said to be the highest of the
“Mountains of the Moon.” At their base are both salt
and copper mines, as well as hot springs. There are also
hot springs in Mpororo, and one in Karague near where
Rogero lived.
30 th.—The important business of announcing our approach
to Uganda was completed by Rthnanika appointing
Kachuchu to go to king Mtdsa as quickly as possible, to
say we were coming to visit him. He was told that we
were very great men, who only travelled to see great kings
and great countries; and, as such, Rumanika trusted we
should be received with courteous respect, and allowed to
roam all over the country wherever we liked, he holding
himself responsible for our actions for the time being. In
the end, however, we were to be restored to him, as he
considered himself our father, and therefore must see that
no accident befell us.
To put the royal message in proper shape, I was now
requested to send some trifle by way of a letter or visiting
card; but, on taking out a Colt’s revolving-rifle for the
purpose, Rumanika advised me not to send it, as Mtesa
might take fright, and, considering it a charm of evil
quality, reject us as bad magicians, and close his gates on
us. Three bits of cotton cloth were then selected as the
best thing for the purpose; and, relying implicitly on the
advice of Rumanika, who declared his only object was to
further our views, I arranged accordingly, and off went
Kachuchu.
To keep my friend in good-humour, and show him
how well the English can appreciate a kindness, I presented
him with a hammer, a sailor’s knife, a Rodgers
three-bladed penknife, a gilt letter-slip with paper and
envelopes, some gilt pens, an ivory holder, and a variety
of other small articles. Of each of these he asked the use,
and then in high glee put it into the big block-tin box, in
which he kept his other curiosities, and which I think he
felt more proud of than any other possession. After this,
on adjourning to his baraza, Ungiiriie the Pig, who had
floored my march in Sorombo, and Makinga, our persecutor
in Usui, came in to report that the AVatiita had
been fighting in Usui, and taken six bomas, upon which
Riimanika asked me what I thought of it, and if I knew
where the AVattita came from. I said I was not surprised
to hear Usiii had attracted the AVatuta’s cupidity, for
every one knew of the plundering propensities of the inhabitants,
and as they became rich by their robberies, they
must in turn expect to be robbed. AVhere the ~Watuta
came from, nobody could te ll; they were dressed something
like the ^ulh Kafirs of the south, but appeared to