king that ever was, and one worthy to be my father; but
now, as he expected me to amuse him with toys, he had
lowered himself in my estimation to the position of being
my child. To this the sages said, “ Bana speaks beautifully,
feelingly, and moderately. Of course he is displeased
at seeing his property preferred before himself; all the
right is on his side: we will now return and see what can
be done—though none but white men in their greatness
dare send such messages to our king.”
Dr K’yengo’s men were now attacked by Kidgwiga for
having taken a cow from me yesterday, and told they should
not eat it, because both they and myself were the king’s
guests, and it ill became one to eat that which was given
as a dinner for the other. Fortunately, foreseeing this
kind of policy, as Kamrasi had been watching our actions,
I invariably gave in presents those cows which came with
us from Uganda, and therefore defied any one to meddle
with them. This elicited the true facts of the case. Dr
K yengo s men had been sent out to our camp to observe
if anybody received presents from us, as Kamrasi feared
his subjects would have the fleecing of us before his turn
came; and these men had reported the two cows given by
me as mentioned above. Kamrasi no sooner heard of this
than he took the cows and kept them himself. In their
justification, Dr K’yengo’s men said that had they not
been in the country before us, Kamrasi would not have
had such guests at a ll; for when he asked them if the
Waganda reports about our cannibalism and other monstrosities
were true, their head man denied it all, offered
to stand security for our actions, and told the king if he
found us cannibals he might make a Mohammedan of
him, and sealed the statement with his oath by throwing
down his shield and bow and walking over them. To
this Kamrasi was said to have replied, “ I will accept
your statements, but you must remain with me until
they come.”
Kajunjii came with orders to say Kamrasi would seize
anybody found staring at us. I requested a definite answer
would be givep as regards Kamrasi’s seeing us. Dr
K’yengo’s men then said they were kept a week waiting
before they could obtain an interview, whilst Kajunjii
excused his king by saying, “ At present the court is full
of Kidi, Chopi, Gani, and other visitors, who he does
not wish should see you, as some may be enemies in disguise.
They are all now taking presents of cows from
Kamrasi, and going to their homes, and, as soon as they
are disposed of, your turn will come.”
16 th.—We kept quiet all day, to see what effect that
would have upon the king. Kidgwiga told us that, when
he was a lad, Kamrasi sent him with a large party of Wan-
yoro to visit a king who lived close to a high mountain,
two months’ journey distant, to the east or south-east of
this, and beg for a magic horn, as that king’s doctor
was peculiarly famed for his skill as a magician. The
party earned with them 600 majembe (iron spades), two
of which expended daily paid for their hoard and lodgings
on the way. The horn applied for was sent by a
special messenger to Kamrasi, who, in return, sent one
of his horns ; from which date, the two kings, whenever
one of them wishes to communicate with the other, sends,
on the messenger’s neck, the horn that had been given
him, which both serves for credentials and security, as no
one dare touch a Mbakka with one of these horns upon
his neck.
A common source of conversation among our men now
was the desertion of their comrades, all fancying how
bitterly they would repent it when they heard how we
had succeeded, eating beef every d ay ; and Ulbdi now, in
a joking manner, abused Mektiib for having urged him
to desert. He would not leave Bana, and if he had not
stopped, Mektiib would have gone, for they both served
one master at Zanzibar, and therefore were like brothers;