feared to touch any of our property. The chief item of
court news was, that Mtesa had shot a buffalo which was
attacking him behind his palace, and made his Wakungi}
carry the animal bodily, whilst life was in it, into his
court. The ammunition I wrote for to Eiimanika had
been brought by Mailla.
As Kasoro still remained silent with regard to Mtdsa’s
message, I told him we shot two of N’yamyonj o’s men on
our retreat up the Nile, and that Kamrasi turned us back
because some miscreant Waganda had forged lies and told
him we were terrible monsters, who ate hills and human
flesh, and drank up all the water of the lake. He laughed,
but still was silent; so I said, “ What message have you
brought from Mtdsa ?” To which, in a timid, modest
kind of manner, he said, “ Bana knows—what more need
I say ? Has he forgotten Mtesa, who loves him so ?” ]
said, “ No, indeed, I have not forgotten Mtdsa; and, moreover,
as I expected you back again, I have sent Bombay
to bring the stimulants and all the things I promised
Mtesa from Gani; in two or three days he will return.”
“ No,” said Kaso r o , t h a t is not it | we must go to Gani
with y ou; for Mtesa says he loves you so much he will
never allow you to part from his hand until his servants
have seen you safely at your homes.”
I replied, “ If Mtdsa wishes you to see my vessels and
all the wonders they contain, as far as I am concerned
you may do so, and I shall be only too happy to show
you a little English hospitality; but the road is in Kam-
rasi’s hands, and his wishes must now be heard.” The
commander-in-chief, now content with all he had heard,
went to Kamrasi to receive his orders, whilst I gave
Kasoro a feast of porridge and salt, with pombd to wash
it down, and a cow to take home with him; for the poor
creatures said they were all starving, as the Wanyoro
would not allow them to take a single plantain from the
field until Kamrasi s permission had been given.
Kamrasi’s reply now arrived; it was to the following
effect:—“ Tell my children, the Waganda, they were never
turned out of Unyoro by my orders: if they wish to go' to
Gani, they can do so ; but, first of all, they must return to
Mt^sa, and ask him to deliver up all of Bana’s men.” I
answered, “No; if any one of those scoundrels who has
deserted me ever dares show his face to me again, I will
shoot Tiim like a dog. Moreover, I want Mtdsa to take
their guns from them, and, without taking life, to transport
them all to an island on the N’yanza, where they can
spend their days in growing plantains; for it is such men
who prevent our travelling in the country and visiting
kings.” Kasoro on this said, “ Mtesa will do so in a
minute if you send a servant to him, but he won’t if we
only say you wish it.”
The commander-in-chief then added, as to Kasoro’s wish
to accompany me, “ If Mtdsa will send another time one
of his people whose life he wishes sacrificed on the journey,
or tells us, Here is a man whom I wish you to send
to Gani at all hazards, and without responsibility for his
life on our part, we will be very glad to send h im ; but
as we are at war with the Gani people continually, there
will be no security for a Mganda’s life there.” To this I
added, “ Now, Kasoro, you see how it is; Kamrasi does not
wish you to go to Gani, so if you take my advice you will
return to Mtesa. Give this tin cartridge-box, which first
came from him, back to him again, to show him you have
seen me, and say, This is Bana’s le tte r; he wishes you to
transport the deserters and seize their guns. The guns, of
course, I sfiall want again at some other time, when I will
send one of my English children to visit him; for now
Kamrasi has opened his country to us, and given us leave
to come and purchase ivory, I never shall be very far
away.” I gave them three pills for Budja, blistered two
of the pages, and started the whole merrily off, Kasoro
2 L